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Missing boy Jacob Pritchett is a reminder of why we can’t leave disabled kids with ill-equipped parents

It has been a year since anyone saw Jacob Pritchett.

The 11-year-old boy, who is autistic and nonverbal, was reported missing in October. But, as far as anyone can tell, he was last seen through his window on April 2, 2025, by a property manager at his NYCHA apartment in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

When questioned by police, his mother claimed that she has never had a child, that she is barren and, also, that she is Jesus Christ. Police found blood in the apartment and on a mattress outside. Jacob’s mother has his name tattooed on her arm.

Children like Jacobs with disabilities are three times as likely to be victims of abuse and neglect as their able-bodied peers. Why? An article in the journal Pediatrics notes that “Children with chronic illnesses or disabilities sometimes can place higher emotional, physical, economic and social demands on their families.”

It is not uncommon to read about cases like, Mason, a 6-year-old autistic boy in Florida who was beaten by his mother’s boyfriend and succumbed to his injuries in February. The mother said her boyfriend frequently became frustrated by the boy’s behavior. The boyfriend probably wasn’t great at parenting to begin with, but it is true that parents can become overwhelmed by the responsibilities and behaviors of kids with severe disabilities.

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