Newborn vanished after secret birth, parents allegedly claimed baby 'was a prank': cops

A Florida mates accused of claiming their missing babe ne'er existed has been arrested successful North Carolina aft a yearlong probe into the child’s presumed death.

Leon Alejandro Jr., 21, and Samantha Feliz, 20, some of Hollywood, Florida, were arrested Wednesday successful Rockingham, North Carolina, wherever investigators accidental they fled portion Hollywood constabulary investigated the disappearance of their infant.

The brace were taken into custody by investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service and booked into the Richmond County Jail connected fugitive of justness warrants. They are being held without enslaved pending extradition to Florida.

Hollywood constabulary began investigating the lawsuit successful aboriginal 2025 aft learning Feliz allegedly gave commencement sometime betwixt Dec. 6, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2025, according to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

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Leon Alejandro Jr., 21, and Samantha Angeline Feliz, 20, were arrested successful North Carolina and are awaiting extradition to Florida connected aggregate felony charges related to the disappearance of their infant. (Richmond County Sheriff's Office - N.C. via Facebook)

Authorities said the commencement was concealed and happened determination different than a hospital.

Investigators said household members saw the mates with the babe during the child's archetypal period of life. After that, authorities said, the babe was ne'er seen again.

According to an apprehension warrant obtained by WPLG, investigators judge the child, identified lone by the initials A.F., was past photographed connected Jan. 5, 2025. Detectives wrote that the babe appeared "visibly sick and malnourished" and showed "no signs of life" successful what they described arsenic the last known image. 

The warrant besides alleges investigators searched aggregate locations with cadaver dogs but were incapable to find the child's remains, according to the outlet.

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Investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested the Florida mates astatine a spot adjacent Rockingham, North Carolina. (Richmond County Sheriff's Office - N.C. Facebook)

Authorities allege Alejandro and Feliz repeatedly denied the kid existed, telling relatives the babe "was a prank" and aboriginal claiming the gestation had been a "hoax" intended to scam household members retired of money, WPLG reported, citing the apprehension warrant.

According to the outlet, investigators said photographs showed Feliz visibly pregnant, portion substance messages discussed the gestation and the baby. 

Detectives besides reportedly recovered babe clothing, a affirmative gestation trial and what appeared to beryllium blood-stained towels from a retention portion tied to the couple. DNA investigating aboriginal determined humor recovered from the babe covering and towels belonged to a biologic kid of Alejandro and Feliz, according to the warrant.

Despite the deficiency of a commencement certificate oregon aesculapian records, investigators said they developed capable grounds to complaint some suspects with aggravated manslaughter of a child, tampering with oregon fabricating carnal evidence, nonaccomplishment to study a decease to the aesculapian examiner, providing mendacious accusation concerning a missing kid and making mendacious reports to instrumentality enforcement.

Authorities allege the mates fled Florida and were surviving connected spot belonging to 1 of Alejandro's relatives successful Richmond County erstwhile investigators located and arrested them July 22.

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Hollywood, Florida, lies connected the Florida formation betwixt Fort Lauderdale and Miami, and was named aft the showbiz municipality successful California. (fotog via Getty Images)

Richmond County Sheriff Mark Gulledge praised the multi-agency effort that led to the arrests.

"This is simply a premier illustration of agencies nationwide collaborating to uphold justice," Gulledge said successful a statement.

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Authorities person not publically released further details astir what investigators judge happened to the infant.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office for immoderate further updates connected the investigation, but did not instantly person a response.