Name: Patrick Alford
Age: 7 years old
Last seen: January 22, 2010
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Status: Still missing
Case Information
7 year old Patrick Alford was last seen in Brooklyn, New York on January 22, 2010. He disappeared while helping his foster mom take out the garbage.
Background
Patrick Alford was born on November 28, 2002. At the time of his disappearance, Patrick was living in a foster home at the Spring Creek Towers (formerly known as Starrett City) on 130 Vandalia Avenue in Brooklyn, New York with his younger sister.
The children had been removed from their biological mother’s Staten Island home after she was arrested for theft in late 2009, just three weeks before Patrick disappeared.
At the time of Patrick’s disappearance, his biological father was living separately on Staten Island. Two years after Patrick’s disappearance his father was left partially paralyzed after being shot in the head during a robbery in East New York. As of 2014 he was living in a nursing home in the Bronx.
Disappearance
At approximately 9:00 pm on January 22, 2010, Patrick Alford was helping his foster mother throw out garbage from their 11th story Brooklyn apartment on 130 Vandalia Avenue when she got distracted by a phone call.
When she turned back around Patrick was nowhere to be seen. Patrick hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
Investigation
Patrick reportedly told his foster mother that he planned to run away to rejoin his biological mother.
K-9 units traced Patrick’s scent to the intersection of Pennsylvania and Shroeder Avenues before the trail went cold. Authorities searched the waters of Fresh Creek Basin, as well as Spring Creek Park near his foster home but found no clues as to his whereabouts.
Investigators initially suspected Patrick’s biological mother was involved in his disappearance. She was placed in jail one week after he went missing, but was released several days later after being questioned extensively and passing a lie detector test.
Patrick’s biological mother alleges that his foster mother couldn’t communicate with Patrick because she didn’t speak English and he didn’t speak Spanish. She says after being placed in foster care he threatened to run away, attacked his foster siblings, and threatened to harm himself.
In the first two months of the investigation police had interviewed approximately 14,000 people, searched 200 buildings, and knocked on 9,000 doors near his foster home on Vandalia Avenue and his biological mother’s Staten Island home.
Nine months after he disappeared, his biological mother sued the city, Patrick’s foster mother, and the foster care agency in Brooklyn federal court, accusing them of negligence.
After a lengthy court battle the city agreed to a $6 million settlement to benefit Patrick in 2018. The money is being held by a corporate trustee, and will benefit Patrick if and when he returns.
Patrick’s case is still an active investigation according to authorities, with police seeking help from the public. There is a a $13,000 reward being offered by Crime Stoppers to anyone with information regarding his disappearance.
Whereabouts
The location of Patrick Alford, as well as the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, remains unknown. His case is classified as endangered missing and remains unsolved.
Appearance
Biracial black/hispanic male born on November 28, 2002. Patrick has black hair and brown eyes. He stood 4’8 and weighed 65 pounds when he went missing in 2010.
Patrick has a scar on his left eyebrow. He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and blue and black Michael Jordan sneakers.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Patrick Alford please contact the New York Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
A $13,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information regarding his disappearance.
Resources & Further Information
Patrick Kennedy Alford Jr – The Charley Project
NYC Disappearance of Brooklyn Boy Patrick Alford Gets New Attention with Age Progressed Photos – Yahoo
NYPD Renews Search For Brooklyn Boy Who Went Missing More Than a Decade Ago – News12
Two NYPD Detectives Continue Decade Long Search For Missing Brooklyn Boy Patrick Alford – AMNY
A Dozen Years After He Vanished, Patrick Alford’s Case Still Haunts Investigators – PIX11
7 Years Later, Mom Haunted By Memory of Missing Boy Patrick Alford – SILive
Videos & Flyers
Best guess is this child is dead.