Crime
12-year-old Juan Acevedo found deceased in a pond near Mica Avenue in Virginia
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The body of 12-year-old Juan Sebastian Mejia Acevedo, who was the subject of an AMBER Alert, has been found in a pond near the 200 block of Mica Avenue, close to where he was last seen.
Authorities recovered the body after an extensive search effort near the apartment complex where Juan disappeared. The discovery was confirmed by Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate during a press conference on Monday.
“Our marine patrol was out early this morning checking the ponds,” Neudigate said. “Utilizing new sonar technology, we recovered a body approximately eight feet underwater that matches the physical and clothing descriptions of Juan Acevedo.”
While an official identification is still pending from the medical examiner’s office, Virginia State Police have canceled the AMBER Alert, stating the “juvenile has been located.”
Juan’s parents reported him missing Friday evening after he failed to return home from what they believed was a visit to a friend’s house. Police were notified around 9 p.m. after the family was unable to locate him.
Following the family’s public plea for help, they began receiving ransom demands through social media, which led authorities to treat the case as a potential abduction. The AMBER Alert was issued Saturday morning as law enforcement agencies intensified their search efforts.
On Monday, Chief Neudigate emphasized that the decision to search the pond was proactive and not based on any specific tip. “We had no specific intelligence that this might be an area of interest,” he said. “We were simply being thorough and leaving no stone unturned.”
Chief Neudigate stated it is too early to determine whether foul play was involved in Juan’s death. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death, which will guide the next steps in the investigation.
Authorities are also investigating the ransom threats made to Juan’s family. The police chief revealed that the family received a demand for $500, which was paid, but no further communication was received.
“One of our theories is that it may have been a scam, but we would be negligent not to treat this as an actual abduction until we know otherwise,” Neudigate explained. “Our detectives are working to determine whether these threats were legitimate or part of a cruel hoax.”
Chief Neudigate extended his condolences to Juan’s family and the broader Virginia Beach community.
“This is a period of grieving for the family, and we will be there to support them during this unimaginably difficult time,” he said.
The Virginia Beach Police Department is continuing its investigation and urges anyone with information related to Juan’s disappearance or the ransom threats to contact them immediately.
For updates or to provide tips, please contact the Virginia Beach Police Department or Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
CHICAGO, IL — A man was found shot to death Friday night on Chicago’s South Side, prompting a homicide investigation by Area One detectives, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 900 block of West 63rd Parkway in the Englewood neighborhood at approximately 10:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a 36-year-old male victim suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and neck.
Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but the victim was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified him as Emerald Pretty, age 36.
According to preliminary information, a male suspect exited a white sedan, approached the victim, and opened fire before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.
No arrests have been made at this time, and Area One detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities have not released details on a possible motive or whether the incident may have been targeted.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department’s Area One Bureau of Detectives or submit an anonymous tip through CPD’s tip line or Crime Stoppers.