Police: Mother of 'Mateo' leaves message
Woman asks Bakersfield detective to find home for boy
 |
Detective Herman Caldas holds the boy who calls himself Mateo.
Story Tools
|
BAKERSFIELD, California (CNN) -- A woman calling herself the mother of a toddler found wandering the streets of Bakersfield last week left a message for a police detective, asking him to find a home for the boy because she can no longer take care of him, police said Tuesday.
The message, in Spanish, was left Friday on the voice mail of Detective Herman Caldas, the Bakersfield Police Department said in a statement. Based on information in the message, including physical descriptions, police believe the woman who left the message was the boy's mother.
Police are still trying to find the woman, who identified herself only by her first name, Xochitl (SO'-chee). Although the boy told police his name was Mateo, the woman's message identified him as Jesus Perez Flores, the statement said.
Police did not reveal the information in the message that led them to believe the woman was the boy's mother, nor did they disclose what she said about why she could no longer care for the boy.
The boy, believed to be about 2 years old, was found nine days ago near Monterey and Haley streets in Bakersfield. He was well dressed and apparently healthy, but he could not answer questions about his parents, and he had not been reported missing.
The boy is in state care.
Police are asking anyone with information about the boy or his mother to call (661) 327-7111.
