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It's been months since a 5-year-old Massachusetts boy was last seen. So why didn't the investigation
into his disappearance start until last week?
"I will never give up. I will never give up. This is ridiculous. I don't get what going
through the people's minds. We are going to find him. We will find him." (Via WBZ-TV)
This is Jeremiah Oliver. NECN reports he was last seen in September. Now, his mother and
her boyfriend are in custody in connection with his disappearance.
Here's the thing. A Massachusetts state-provided social worker was supposed to be visiting
Jeremiah once a month after questions about his mother's mental competence and possible
abuse in the home. And now we know — those visits weren't happening, which is why local
media are calling the tragic case a failure of the state.
The Boston Globe's Yvonne Abraham writes, "He was just one endangered child among many,
his precious little life failing to rise to the top of a pile — and not even a tall
pile — of case files on a desk."
The social worker who was supposed to be making those visits has been fired — and so has
that worker's supervisor. Neither have been named though.
Investigators think Jeremiah's 28-year-old mother Elsa Oliver and her boyfriend know
where the 5-year-old is. Volunteer search parties have been scouring the neighborhood
where he was last seen. (Via WFXT)
WCVB was there.
"Be with us as we go out there and help us to be fruitful we pray in Jesus' name."
So how did officials come to realize the 5-year-old was missing? Police say Jeremiah's 8-year-old
sister talked to staff at school.
And according to court records, that little girl had told authorities their mother's boyfriend
was physically abusive. That boyfriend — 22-year-old Alberto Sierra — has a history of domestic
abuse according Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early. (Via WHDH)
Jeremiah's father Jose Oliver — who hadn't seen the boy in two years — is leading the
call for answers. He told authorities he doubts Jeremiah's mother is mentally competent to
face charges.