Baby reunited with mother, teen girl still missing in Vineland, officials say

The 1-year-old baby that was believed to have been kidnapped by a 16-year-old girl has been reunited with his mother Monday night, according to the Vineland New Jersey Police Department.

Officials say the teen girl Akera Johns, accused of kidnapping a baby boy in Vineland over the weekend, has not been found yet.

At 8 PM this evening, investigators with @USMS_Philly, New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, @NJSP, and Vineland PD recovered Hakeem Hintzen in Philadelphia. Thank you to the media and the public for all of the assistance that ultimately facilitated this recovery. pic.twitter.com/SAQzNmX7Cn

— U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia (@USMS_Philly) November 14, 2023

US Marshal says they believe Johns saw the news on media outlets that she is being accused of kidnapping 1-year-old Hakeem Hintzen.

She dropped the baby off with a party in Philly who wants to remain anonymous and that party contacted a family member of the baby. That family then contacted the US Marshals.

They say the child was brought to Philly police headquarters to meet with Marshals and Vineland Police. Vineland police also brought Hakeem’s mom.

Investigators say the mom and Johns know each other and apparently the mom gave Johns permission to have the child for a little. But when it was time to return him, Johns refused for an unknown reason.

Johns was spotted with the child in Philadelphia on Monday, investigators said.

She was initially spotted with 1-year-old Hakeem Hintzen on Saturday, Nov. 11, around 3 p.m. at the Cumberland Family Shelter on Mays Landing Road in Vineland, according to officials.

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Johns allegedly refused to return the boy to his mother that day and the teen and child went missing.

Johns was later charged with kidnapping. Investigators said she and Hintzen were spotted Monday morning at 32^nd Street and Susquehanna Avenue in Philadelphia and later in Center City around noon.

The U.S. Marshals, Vineland Police and New Jersey State Police continue to search for the 16-year-old.

Johns is described as a Black female with red and black braids, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing a tan jacket, black jeans and black and white slides.

Police believe she is still in the Philadelphia area.

If you have any information on her whereabouts, please call the Vineland Police Department at 856-691-4111.