Alexander Draper 14, & Mom Jerri Gray, Travelers Rest, SC [FOUND SAFE]

[nanabillie]

http://www.wyff4.com/news/19526636/detail.html
Deputies: Mom On Run With 555-Pound Boy

Alexander Draper, Jerri Gray Missing

POSTED: 11:26 am EDT May 21, 2009
UPDATED: 12:57 pm EDT May 21, 2009


GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- Deputies are looking for a mother and son after the state was planning to take the 555-pound 14-year-old into protective custody, according to Greenville County deputies.
http://www.wyff4.com/images/structures/buttons/button_enlarge.gif (http://www.wyff4.com/news/19526636/detail.html#)
http://www.wyff4.com/2009/0521/19527015_240X180.jpg
(http://www.wyff4.com/news/19526636/detail.html#)Alexander DraperBelieved to be with his mother, Jerri Gray, in a white with burgundy stripes 1996 Chevy van. Call CrimeStoppers at 23-CRIME

Alexander Draper is considered to be at a critical stage of health risk. When officers went to take the boy from the home, they found that he and his mother, Jerri Gray, had left the home on Goodwin Bridge Road in Travelers Rest.
According to the Department of Social Services, Gray was supposed to appear in family court with the boy on Tuesday, but they did not show up.
At the hearing, Alexander was ordered into the custody of the state due to medical neglect and Gray's failure to appear in court. Investigators said that the mother and son's whereabouts are unknown to family members.



Deputies said the mother and son are possibly traveling in a 1996 Chevrolet van, model 1500, white with burgundy stripes, with the South Carolina tag number AQZ 566. http://www.wyff4.com/images/structures/buttons/button_enlarge.gif



http://www.wyff4.com/2009/0521/19527078_240X180.jpg
(http://www.wyff4.com/news/19526636/detail.html#)SC Tag: AQZ 566


There is a warrant for Gray's arrest on a violation of custody order. Alexander is considered an endangered missing person at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 23-CRIME.



Refresh this page and watch WYFF News 4 for more on this developing story. Copyright 2009 by WYFF4.com. All rights reserved. This material may

[Amusedtdth]

Another mother on the run with a criticlally ill child.

[Faith]

I just saw this on HLN- OMG

[Faith]

From the video on Billie's link

Alexander's mom, Jerri Gray.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll116/helpfindthemissing/mom-1.jpg

[nanabillie]

She cannot hide that child for long.

[sarahhod]

Thursday, May. 21, 2009

Authorities search for SC mother, 555-pound son

By KATRINA A. GOGGINS - Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Authorities searched Thursday for a 555-pound South Carolina teen who disappeared with his mother.
Alexander Draper, 14, is with 49-year-old Jerri Gray, who faces a charge of violating a custody order, police said.
The teen is considered to be at a "stage of critical health risk," but authorities could not provide details about his medical condition beyond his weight, said Greenville County Sheriff's Lt. Shea Smith.


http://media.mercedsunstar.com/smedia/2009/05/21/16/555_Pound_Teen.sff.embedded.prod_affiliate.111.jpg (http://media.mercedsunstar.com/smedia/2009/05/21/16/555_Pound_Teen.sff.standalone.prod_affiliate.111.j pg)
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office
AP Photo - This is an undated family photo provided by The Greenville County Sheriff's Office of Alexander Draper of Travelers Rest, S.C. who is missing Thursday, May 21, 2009. Authorities are searching for his mother Jerri Gray who failed to make a scheduled court appearance on May 19, 2009. The judge has ordered the 555 pound teen be taken into protective custody because of medical neglect and Gray's failure to appear in court.

http://media.mercedsunstar.com/smedia/2009/05/21/16/871555_Pound_Teen.sff.embedded.prod_affiliate.111. jpg (http://media.mercedsunstar.com/smedia/2009/05/21/16/871555_Pound_Teen.sff.standalone.prod_affiliate.11 1.jpg)
The Greenville County Sheriff's Office
AP Photo - This is an undated photo provided by The Greenville County Sheriff's office of Jerri Gray, 49, of Traverlers Rest, S.C. Authorities are searching for Jerri Gray who failed to make a scheduled court appearance on May 19, 2009 with her son Alexander Draper, 14. The judge has ordered the 555 pound teen be taken into protective custody because of medical neglect and Gray's failure to appear in court.


The state Department of Social Services contacted deputies Tuesday after Gray failed to make a scheduled court appearance so officials could begin investigating claims of child neglect and endangerment.
"We urgently hope that his mother will bring him back, or law enforcement will find him, so he can get the care he needs," DSS spokeswoman Marilyn Matheus said in a statement.
The agency doesn't get involved in such cases based on a child's weight alone, but will take action in "cases where health care professionals believe a child is at risk of harm because a parent is neglecting to provide necessary medical care," Matheus wrote.
A judge ordered the teen taken into protective custody.
Gray and Draper were last seen Monday at their home in Travelers Rest, a city about 10 miles north of Greenville.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/nation/story/858961.html

[nanabillie]

FOUND SAFE!!!! In Maryland....... Per WSPA
http://www.wspa.com/spa/news/ It was on TV

[Roamer]

From nana's link above:


STAFF REPORTS
Published: May 21, 2009
A mother and her 555lb son have been discovered in Maryland. Thursday afternoon, at approximately 4:30 pm, Alexander Deundray Draper and his mother, Jerri Althea Gray were located near a laundromat in Baltimore, Maryland by the Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators were able to develop information that led them have Maryland authorities check a laundromat where Draper and Gray were believed to be parked near. Draper was checked on scene by EMS, and has been turned over to the Maryland Department of Social Services. Investigators will work with them to have him returned to the Department of Social Services in South Carolina. Gray was taken into custody and will be held pending extradition to Greenville on her outstanding warrant. Deputies are trying to determine why Draper and Gray were found in Maryland. The investigation continues; we will have more on this on News Channel 7 and wspa.com

[nanabillie]

Sorry I had to leave without finishing... But so happy he is safe. Now he will get help and she is in jail. DH says, "What does this little lesson teach us?":duh:

[texanne]

I hope the doctors can help this boy with his medical problems. No child should be left in that condition. That did not happen overnight, were there no caring people to intervene much earlier?

[Faith]

SCTRguy, all we had to go on were the media articles. We are thankful Alex is safe. We also pray everything works out for him.

We are all aware media articles are not always 100% accurate.

[sarahhod]

Tuesday, May. 26, 2009

Mom of 555-pound teen waives extradition from Md.

The Associated Press

TOWSON, Md. -- A woman accused of neglecting her 555-pound son's health will return to South Carolina to face charges.
Baltimore County police say 49-year-old Jerri Gray of Travelers Rest, S.C., waived her right to an extradition hearing Tuesday.
Gray and her son, 14-year-old Alexander Draper, were found last week at a laundry in the Baltimore suburb of Woodlawn. Police found them after tracing calls on her cell phone.
County police spokesman Cpl. Mike Hill says corrections officials will work out details of her return with South Carolina officials.
Gray was charged on a South Carolina warrant for violating a custody order. Police did not know if she had an attorney.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/nation/story/865779.html