Akera Johns accused of taking baby from Cumberland Family Shelter

VINELAND – Police have found a baby who was taken from a shelter here, but a search continued Monday for his alleged kidnapper, a 16-year-old girl.

Police said the suspect, Akera Johns, refused to return 20-month-old Hakeem Hintzen to his mother at the Cumberland Family Shelter on Saturday, Nov. 11.

The boy was found in Philadelphia on Monday "and is back in his mother's custody," according to a Facebook post from New Jersey State Police.

"Authorities are still attempting to locate (Johns)," the post said. "Investigation is active and ongoing."

Jones was charged with kidnapping, according to the U.S. Marshals Service in Philadelphia.

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Johns was last seen at the shelter on Mays Landing Road around 3 p.m. Saturday.

She and the baby were seen Monday morning at 32nd Street and Susquehanna Avenue in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, the Marshals Service said.

A missing-person notice distributed by Vineland police describes Johns as a friend of the child's family.

She is 5'10", about 140 pounds, with brown eyes and red-and-black braided hair, the notice says.

Johns was wearing a tan jacket, black jeans and black-and-white slides.

An investigation is being conducted by Vineland police and the Missing Persons and Human Trafficking Unit of the State Police.

Anyone with information is asked to call Vineland police at 856-696-1212, or dial 911.

A Cumberland Family Shelter representative could not be reached for immediate comment on the alleged abduction.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Girl, 16, and 20-month-old child went missing from shelter on Nov. 11