Jason Sim's Story...It is a complex and heartbreaking case.
February 18, 2015 at 2:30 PM, updated February 18, 2015 at 4:15 PM ..................
The father of a missing Fairfield teen remains mum about the whereabouts of his autistic son, and therefore will remain behind bars.
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Lorraine Pringle today ordered Jason Sims Sr. to continue to be held while she and investigators try to find the teen boy that many never even knew existed. "We are looking for a fragile 15-year-old child who probably only weighs 60 pounds,'' Pringle told AL.com
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Lorraine Pringle today ordered Jason Sims Sr. to continue to be held while she and investigators try to find the teen boy that many never even knew existed. "We are looking for a fragile 15-year-old child who probably only weighs 60 pounds,'' Pringle told AL.com
Fairfield police last week announced the disappearance of Jason Sims Jr. in what they described is one of the most bizarre situations they've encountered. "I have never seen anything like it,'' Fairfield police Chief Leon Davis said in an earlier interview. "It's one of those made-for-TV kind of things where people make up the strangest thing they can and then write a story about it."
Davis said Fairfield police and the Department of Human Resources are conducting a joint investigation into Jason's disappearance. Authorities in October 2014 first began looking into child neglect claims with Sims' family.
During that initial probe, Davis said, police were aware of two children - ages 10 and 12 - living in the home with the parents - Natasha Wright and Jason Sims Sr. They had no idea the 15-year-old existed, or another child who is 9 years old, until the investigation progressed. "The latter two had never been enrolled in school nor have any medical records been located,'' the police chief said.
Based on conditions of the home and the situation, authorities issued four arrest warrants for both Wright and Sims, charging them with aiding to the dependency of minors. Basically, the chief said, that charge means they weren't doing what they were supposed to do for the children as their parents.
Davis said they tried to serve the arrest warrants in October at the family's home at 112 59th Street. However, he said, the family had gone on the run. On January 23, Wright was found unconscious at the home. Three days later, three of the children were found with relatives in Mulga and placed in DHR's custody. Wright briefly regained consciousness and asked authorities about her teen son. She said the last time she was him, he was at their home. She was not able to say when she last saw him.
On Friday, Feb. 13, lawmen carried out a search warrant at the Fairfield home in search of the teen and any information that could lead them to him. Because of the mother's illness - which Davis said he couldn't discuss because of medical privacy laws - Birmingham Fire and Rescue's Hazmat Unit assisted Fairfield police and fire in the operation. The teen was not at the home.
Sims Sr. was taken into custody last week, Davis said. He has refused to provide any information on the whereabouts of his son. Some relatives, the chief said, didn't know the teen existed either. "It's odd,'' Davis said.
Judge Pringle said this morning's hearing was to try to get Sims to reveal the location of his son. "He says he doesn't know,'' the judge said. "Somewhere, someone knows where this minor child is."
She said she is more than concerned. "We have an autistic child who does not communicate with the public well and who has not been treated properly in terms of physicians, boosters and schools,'' Pringle said. "He's had none of the things that we as parents would want for our children."
The judge is asking the public to help find the teen. She said people need to notify law enforcement if they've noticed someone fitting Jason's description in their neighborhood who wasn't previously there. "If it doesn't seem like it passes the smell test, it probably doesn't,'' she said.
Davis said today that Wright is now conscious but also cannot reveal the location of the child. Police today released photos that they believe are Jason when he was younger. "While we fear the worst, we remain optimistic that the child will be located and is safe,'' the police chief said. "the safety and welfare of this child is our utmost concern."
Anyone with any information or who may have seen them with children is asked to contact Chief Davis, Det. Michael Erby or Officer Monic Tice at the Fairfield Police Department, 205- 786-4111.
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