A smart, friendly Brooklyn boy has been missing from his East New York foster home since the 4th of July, when he went to the store and never came back home.
Heartbroken foster mom Penny Cardoza has been scouring the neighborhood near her Wortman Avenue home, posting pictures to trees and signposts in a desperate search for 12-year-old Shawn Martinez.
Cardoza and cops say it is out of character for the child to run away.
“He’s never done this before,” Cardoza said. “He didn’t seem upset or anything when he left the house.”
Cardoza said Shawn went to the store to get milk, something he’s done dozens of times.
“He doesn’t take more than 15 minutes,” she said.
But no one has seen him since.
She described him as 5-foot-5 and about 116 pounds.
He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black T-shirt with the words “Call of Duty” written on it and red and blue Adidas sneakers.
Cops have issued an Amber alert.
Cardoza said Shawn has been in her care for five years, but she said they have a natural bond.
“This is my son,” Cardoza said. “This is my baby. He’s everything to me. He’s a good kid. He doesn’t get into any trouble.”