Homicide investigators have taken over the search for a missing Woodbridge baby, more than a week after the infant's father fled with the boy from Children's Aid workers.
According to York Regional Police, Ricky Doodhnaught, 31, escaped with his nine-week-old son George when case workers and police arrived at a Comfort Inn in Rexdale on Nov. 24. Officials had come to the motel to collect two children under a previous court order.
The mother of the children was arrested at the scene and an 11-month-old child was taken to a safe location.
Although police have no indication that the case is a homicide at this point, officers said they are concerned for the safety of the missing child, given that it was born prematurely and may have health issues.
"Our biggest goal is to find out that the child is safe in somebody's home," said York Regional Police Det. Sgt. Larry Wilson. "We are just concerned. We want to know if the child is safe or not."
George was last seen on Oct. 31 when he was taken for a doctor's appointment in Woodbridge, while Doodhnaught was seen in the Woodbridge area just a few days ago without the baby.
Police said the baby's mother believed that her husband had sheltered the child with relatives; however, police interviews revealed that some family members were not aware that the couple had a second child.
Doodhnaught is described as male, brown, standing 5-foot-10, with short, black hair and brown eyes.
He is believed to be driving a silver 2002 Dodge Caravan, possibly with one of two Ontario licence plates, either BMJ-Z199 or BFJ-T783. He is also wanted for two incidents involving the theft of gas.
