King Richards Is Home, Father Arrested In Connection With 2025 Disappearance Of The 12-Year-Old Boy

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — King Richards is safe at home this evening.

The New Rochelle Police Department says that on Monday, they concluded a long-term missing child investigation with the arrest of 54-year-old Dwight Richards, of New Rochelle, the father of the 12-year-old whose mother reported him missing in March of last year.

NRPD detectives found Richards in the Bronx and arrested him on a Family Court Warrant.

While the missing boy was not present during the arrest, police say that the elder Richards helped to facilitate the return of the boy to New Rochelle police.

The child was evaluated and found to be in good health. He was brought to New Rochelle Family Court to be reunited with his mother, who has full legal custody.

Richards was charged with a violation of the Family Court Act, and arrested for second-degree criminal contempt based on a Westchester County warrant stemming from the case.

According to the misdemeanor information filed with the court, on July 18, 2025, Richards violated a mandate issued by a Westchester County Family Court judge by failing to bring his son to court on that date. Up until his arrest, Richards had remained in violation of the court's mandate by failing to produce his son to the court, according to the misdemeanor information.

Richards is scheduled to be arraigned in White Plains City Court Wednesday morning on the criminal contempt charge.

"I am relieved beyond measure that, nearly one year later, King Richards was found in good health and was returned to the care of his mother," Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said. "The defendant's alleged defiance of the Family Court, allegedly concealing his son for the better part of a year, caused his mother and everyone in this county an agonizing wait as the child's whereabouts remained unknown for so long. I want to commend the New Rochelle police for never giving up their search efforts or their hope that King Richards would be located safe and sound. Their diligence led to today's reunion."

"All children in Westchester deserve to live without fear that they will be stolen without warning from the sanctuary of their communities," the DA said. "We must strive for a reality where that is possible."

The case was investigated by the New Rochelle Police Department and the Child Abuse Bureau within the DA's Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Child Abuse Bureau.

The New Rochelle Police Department thanked the Westchester County DA's Office, and other law enforcement partners who helped in locating the child and bringing the investigation to a safe resolution.