US: Woman in New Jersey Charged After Missing Teen Son Found in Basement Crawl Space

A New Jersey woman has been charged with obstruction after police found her missing 17-year-old son hiding in a crawl space in the basement of her home, authorities said. Jennifer Buckley had reportedly told police that the teenager was not at her house and that she could not find him after his father reported that he had failed to arrive for a scheduled drop-off.

Buckley also reportedly told officers that her son did not want to go to his father’s home and expressed concern that he might be a danger to himself, New York Post reported. Police launched an extensive search for the teenager and later found discrepancies in Buckley’s account. Investigators determined that the boy had remained inside the house and that his mother had helped conceal him. US: Former Miami Teacher Shows Obscene Videos to Students, Tries To Kiss Them; Arrested.

Police Launch Search For Missing Teen

The teenager was reported missing after his father said he had not arrived for a scheduled drop-off on Tuesday evening. According to police, Buckley initially said her son was not at her home and that she was unable to locate him. She also raised concerns about his safety, telling authorities that he might be a danger to himself.

“The East Brunswick Police Department initiated an extensive effort to locate the juvenile,” the department said. “Patrol officers and other department personnel devoted significant resources to the search, while detectives conducted a follow-up investigation in the days that followed.” Police entered the teenager’s information into the National Crime Information Center as part of the search. Florida Incest Case: How Domestic Dispute Call Uncovered Mother and Son’s Illicit Relationship.

Investigation Raises Questions About Mother’s Account

As detectives continued investigating, authorities said they found a number of discrepancies in Buckley’s account of what had happened. The investigation eventually led officers to search the woman’s home.

The 17-year-old was found hiding in a crawl space in the basement, according to authorities. Police determined that he had been there throughout the search and that Buckley had helped conceal him. Authorities said there was no evidence that the teenager had been harmed.

Buckley was arrested and charged with obstructing the administration of law. The charge follows investigators’ conclusion that she provided information that did not accurately reflect her son’s whereabouts while police were attempting to locate him.

The case also highlights the resources deployed by law enforcement when a juvenile is reported missing, particularly when authorities are told the child could be at risk.

East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco praised the officers and detectives involved in the search and said misleading information can affect police efforts to respond to other emergencies.

“Whenever a juvenile is reported missing, particularly when there are concerns for that child’s safety, our officers take the report seriously and commit the resources necessary to locate them,” East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco said in a statement.

“I commend the patrol officers, detectives and other personnel who worked diligently to locate this juvenile and ensure his safety. Providing false or misleading information to law enforcement undermines those efforts and unnecessarily diverts officers and resources away from members of our community who may need immediate police assistance.”

The teenager was located safely, and authorities said there was no indication that he had suffered any harm. The criminal case against Buckley concerns the alleged obstruction of the police investigation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2026 04:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).