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Toddler missing, 13-year-old wanted

Sunday, June 04, 2006

(Tremont-WABC, June 4, 2006) (WABC) -- Brandon Aponte disappeared from his father's Bronx tattoo parlor Saturday afternoon. Police believe he may have been abducted by a 13-year-old girl.

Eyewitness News reporter Marcus Solis is at the 46th Precinct in the Tremont section with more.

Police continue to search for the boy and the teenage girl. She's made comments to friends that she wants a child and has joked with Brandon Aponte saying that she is his mother.

Zeus Aponte, Uncle: "It's hard just to know that this little kid is out there. Is he eating? Is he getting hurt?"

There are so many questions, but there's only frustrating lack of answers for the Aponte family. Three-year-old Brandon Aponte is missing. He was snatched Saturday afternoon from the tattoo parlor his father owns. Police say a teenage girl took the toddler. No one knows where they could be or why she would abduct him.

Zeus Aponte, Uncle: "A 13-year-old taking care of this kid. It's hard for the mom to take care of this kid. Imagine a 13-year-old."

Police are looking for Tatiana Morales. A few months ago the teen used a faked ID and got a tattoo of the name Carmello on her left arm. Since then she's hung out at Zeus Tattoo's near Fordham Road. Relatives admit she's taken Brandon outside on occasion.

Randall Orosco, Cousin: "She took him the first time and she brought him right back. It's just that we have no clue why she would do this now. Especially four or five hours later and the baby is missing. We have no clue."

Perhaps that's why the boy's father waited three hours to notify police Saturday. Relatives deny there's any relationship between him and Morales who, although just 13-year-old, may work as a stripper. Morales' cousin says she hasn't been home in months.

Elijah Prado, Suspect's Cousin: "Her mother filed a petition trying to get her back and put warrants out for her. She hasn't shown up."

Friends are passing out fliers hoping someone spots something.

As police search, detectives have been questioning Brandon's parents. On Sunday afternoon, the boy's father was led out of the precinct to take a polygraph exam. Detectives are trying to find out how much he knows about the 13-year-old girl.

The search for the three-year-old boy continues.

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