FOUND SAFE: Abducted 18-Month-Old Child Was Found Safe, Father Arrested

Gabriel Ristick Has Been Found Safe

UPDATE

Gabriel Ristick is safe and the boy’s father has been arrested for interfering with child custody. The Boca Raton Police Department released the following information on Friday evening:

20-year-old Vinie Ristick is under arrest tonight after abducting his 18-month-old son from Boca Raton Thursday night. Boca Raton Police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office worked together to successfully locate Ristick and the child in Greenacres, Florida this afternoon. The child appeared to be in good condition but was taken to a local hospital for a precautionary examination.

The investigation started Thursday night, December 22, 2022, when the child’s mother took the child to the mall to meet with Ristick after he had not seen the child in over two months. They met inside the mall at 6000 W Glades Road. When the mother went to order coffee, Ristick left with the child without the mother’s knowledge or consent. Surveillance video showed Ristick and the child leaving the area in a vehicle. According to the mother, Ristick had never taken care of the child who suffers from a condition that requires daily medication. The mother contacted Ristick who said he was not going to give the child back. He told the mother he would retaliate against her if she contacted the police and then stopped responding to her.

Ristick was charged with Interference with Custody and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail. The mother and child have since been reunited.

Originally reported by Boca Post

BOCA RATON, FL – Boca Post (BocaPost.com) — The Boca Raton Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating 1-year-old Gabriel Ristick who went missing from Boca Raton.

FDLE has issued a MISSING CHILD alert after the Boca Raton Police Department says that Gabriel was last seen near the Town Center at Boca Raton located at 6000 West Glades Road in Boca Raton.

Gabriel was last seen wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans. Police say that Gabriel may bewith his father, 20-year-old Vinie Ristick, who was last seen wearing a grey polo shirt and blue jeans.

The pair may be traveling in a 2014 gray Chrysler Town & Country minivan with IL tag #DQ83169.