POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Broward Sheriff's Office deputies hoping to avert tragedy fear a traumatized 11-year-old boy is caught in a troubling cycle. Joy Oglesby, a spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff's Office, said Thursday night that Justin Williams is a habitual runaway.
Deputies suspected the boy decided he would rather risk the dangers of the streets than stay in the foster-care system. Oglesby said he took off Monday and was last seen Thursday afternoon wearing a red T-shirt, red shorts and blue shoes in Pompano Beach.
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Detective Chris Blankenship said he needed the public's help to find him. The Florida Department of Children and Families was investigating.
Research shows children who run away often have a history of involvement in the foster care system, they usually run because they want to reconnect with their biological families or express their autonomy, and they are more vulnerable to drug use, sexual exploitation and untreated mental health disorders.
Blankeship was asking anyone with information about Justin's whereabouts to call him at 954-321-4268 or Broward County's regional communications at 954-764-4357.