Boy, 7, Reported Missing From Grandfather’s House in Arlington Heights
LOS ANGELES—Authorities were scouring the Arlington Heights area April 5 in search of a 7-year-old boy who went missing from the apartment complex where he lives with his grandfather.
Derek Clay was last seen about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Crenshaw Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The boy is black, 5 feet tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, a gray sweater, dark pants, and distinctive blue sneakers.
The boy’s grandfather, Donald Lewis, told reporters he has had custody of Derek since October, and he also takes care of the boy’s older brother. Lewis said Derek’s mother has visitation rights under supervision, KTLA5 reported.
Lewis said it is not like Derek to be away from home for so long.
“He always comes home,” Lewis said. “He eats a lot. He’s hungry.”
CRITICAL MISSING 7 year old boy in Wilshire Area: PIO enroute to 1194 Crenshaw BLVD pic.twitter.com/bzNKAF09r2
— LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) April 5, 2023
According to the grandfather, Derek often goes to visit friends, but he always returns home. He called the police around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when the boy still had not returned.
Lewis said he called the boy’s cell phone and somebody answered, but quickly hung up. The phone now goes directly to voicemail, he said. He said he was still trying to reach the boy’s mother.
“If someone has him, let him go,” Lewis said. “Let him find his way home.”
Police have been canvassing the neighborhood, even using bloodhounds to assist in the search.
As of early Wednesday afternoon, investigators had located the boy’s biological mother and interviewed her, according to LAPD Officer Mike Lopez.
Lopez said there was still no evidence of foul play—but there was also no reason to believe the boy would have intentionally run away.
Anyone knowing his whereabouts was urged to call 877-LAPD-247, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
