More than 50 search for missing boy

H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@kcchronicle.com South Elgin police K-9 officers Joe Mihalec and partner Itago begin the search Wednesday for 8 year-old Eli Berri in the 1200 block of Raymond St. Berri was later found safe just before noon.

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

SOUTH ELGIN – An 8-year-old South Elgin boy who was reported missing Wednesday morning was found with his mother nearly three hours after the search began.

A search crew was assembled within minutes of receiving word that Eli Berri was missing from the home he shared with his father in the 1200 block of Raymond Street in South Elgin, said Police Chief Chris Merritt.

Berri’s father called police shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday, Merritt said, adding that he told police he had last seen his son about 4 a.m. The police chief received confirmation at 11:35 a.m. that the boy was found safe with his mother.

Merritt said he believes that Berri’s parents are separated and that the boy, who he said may have mental or emotional issues, was living with his father in South Elgin at the time of the incident.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Police Chief Jerry Krawczyk said authorities were still trying to figure out exactly how the boy ended up with his mother at her place of employment in Hoffman Estates.

Merritt said the incident may have been the result of “parental miscommunication.” He said it took a while to locate Berri’s mother because his father did not have any information about her whereabouts.

Regardless, Merritt said, it was important the search began immediately after the report was made because of the lapse in time, cold weather and the boy’s age. Dozens of emergency vehicles were parked across the street from Berri’s South Elgin home as more than 50 people searched for the boy Wednesday.

South Elgin Police were assisted by several agencies, including the county sheriff’s department and office of emergency management. Two helicopters, a boat and a K-9 dog were also used in the search.