Police search for parents of toddler found wandering alone

POLICE in California are searching for the parents of a two-year-old boy found wandering alone.

Mateo is learning to talk and cannot explain where he lives. There have been repeated media appeals and a poster campaign, but no one seems to know who his family is.

In Spanish, he has been able to tell police what his name is, and that he has two brothers at home, and a pet dog. He was found a week ago wandering alone, long after his bedtime. He is well dressed and well fed.

Mateo is the talking point of the tightly-knit Hispanic community in Bakersfield where he was discovered.

As the search continues, Mateo has been placed with foster parents.

Police are hoping that as he grows up and learns more words he may be able to tell them enough about his real family to track them down.

Police have knocked on doors and handed out about 300 flyers with pictures of the boy.

“Where could his parents be,” wondered Detective Herman Caldas, who has spent hours searching the neighbourhood.

Police said it’s possible the parents are illegal immigrants and won’t come forward, fearing deportation.

Maybe, Caldas said, the child was left with a babysitter and wandered off.

Or maybe Mateo was simply abandoned by parents who no longer wanted him.

“There may be an explanation for this, other than the child being criminally abandoned,” Caldas said.

“But we have to find the parents to figure this all out.”

Mateo did not appear to have been neglected when he was found.

He was wearing new clothes and looked clean and healthy. He’s affectionate, not shy.

“This certainly isn’t a kid who has been a latchkey kid locked in a room alone,” said Sgt Mitchell Willoughby of the juvenile/sex crimes unit.

“This kid has received some love in his life.”

Bakersfield police said they are more concerned with locating the parents than assigning blame.