Missing NJ Infant Found, Teen Girl Charged With Kidnapping On The Run

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A 1-year-old boy who went missing from Vineland over the weekend was found in Philadelphia Monday evening, according to the U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia. The 16-year-old girl he had been missing with has been charged with kidnapping.

The girl, Akera Johns, is still missing as of Monday night. The kidnapping charges came after officials said she refused to return the infant, Hakeem Hintzen, to his mother Saturday.

Vineland police described Johns as a family friend of the Hintzens. According to multiple outlets, including NBC10 Philadelphia, Johns dropped Hintzen off with an anonymous party in Philly. The party contacted a member of the baby's family, who notified the US Marshals Service before Hintzen was brought to Philadelphia police headquarters.

Investigators told NBC10 Philadelphia that the baby's mother gave Johns permission to have him for a period of time, but that Johns refused to return him when the time came.

Johns and Hintzen had last been seen Saturday afternoon at the Cumberland Family Shelter on Mays Landing Road in Vineland before they were reported missing, with officials saying that they believed the pair were heading to Philadelphia.

The pair were spotted again Monday morning near 32nd Street and Susquehanna Avenue in Philadelphia.

Within hours, the combined efforts of the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons and Human Trafficking Unit and the Vineland Police Department culminated in Hintzen being brought to safety and Johns charged with his kidnapping, investigators said.

Police describe Johns as a Black female who stands 5'10" tall and weighs around 140 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Vineland Police Department at 856-696-1212.