Child found in street was able to get outside due to improperly installed locks, family says

HOUSTON – Family members of a child found wandering in a southwest Houston street have been located and police are inside an apartment speaking to people believed to be relatives.

According to authorities, the boy was found in the middle of the street around 4:20 a.m. Thursday on Ranchester Drive near Clarewood Drive.

Felipe Tuizpalax, the man who found the baby, said he was on his way to work when he saw the boy run into the street.

According to Tuizpalax, the child was crying and kept asking for his mother, but when Felipe went to look for the child’s parents, there was no one around.

“I (was) scared because it’s a baby,” Tuizpalax said. “I parked my car … and I (went) to find his mother. I tried to open all the doors (to the apartment complex), they was locked. I told him, ‘where is your mom, where is your father, tell me.’ He no say nothing, just (kept) saying ‘mom.’”

Tuizpalax said he called the police because he was afraid something would happen to the child.

Authorities were able to locate the family a few hours after the child was found and said he was able to get out because the front door was not locked.

Family members said the locks to the front door had recently been changed and were installed wrong. When a family member left for work Thursday morning, the door didn't lock properly and the child was able to get out, family said.


About the Author

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.

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