UPDATE 11/26/08 – In a jailhouse interview, the father of Giovanni admitted that he stabbed his son to death, dismembered him in the tub and then discarded the body parts. More info at end of article.

Lynn, Mass. – Giovanni Gonzalez is five years old.  He’s been missing since SundaySunday reviews, and now Giovanni’s father, Ernesto Gonzalez, won’t tell police where his son is.  Sound familiar?  On Friday evening, Giovanni’s mother, Daisy Colon, took her son to a scheduled weekend visitation with his father.  But on Sunday, when Colon went to pick up Giovanni, Ernesto Gonzalez wouldn’t answer the door.   When police arrived and entered the home, they found Ernesto, but no Giovanni.  

Police initially thought the elder Gonzalez was just being a jerk about a custody dispute, until they were unable to locate Giovanni.  Of additional concern was a cut on Ernesto Gonzalez’ hand that looked like it might have come from an altercation of some kind.

The Lynn Police Department and Massachusetts State Police have issued an endangered child advisory for Giovanni.   An endangered child advisory is different from an Amber Alert because there is no known vehicle or other transportation method known in this case.  Still, police think that Giovanni is in significant danger.

Giovanni Gonzalez, 5 was last seen wearing blue denim jeans, a red T-shirt, a silver braided chain, and black SpiderSpider reviews-Man sandals. He is 4 feet, 2 inches tall and has black hair and brown eyes.  There is a slight birthmark on his left inner ankle, and a faded pigmentation mark on the lower right side of his chest.  He was carrying a TransformersTransformers reviews backpack.

Giovanni was last seen at about 4:00 p.m. on FridayFriday reviews, AugustAugust reviews 15, at his father’s home at 2 Brightwood Terrace in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Gonzales has been charged with one count of child endangerment. He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment yesterday, and is being held on $500,000 cash bail. He is due back in court on SeptemberSeptember reviews 17.

UPDATE 8/23/08 – A mop and a bottle of Lysol found in Ernesto Gonzalez’ home have tested positive for the presence of blood.  Also removed from the home were a belt, trash bags, two knives, a computer, and a cell phone.

Ernesto Gonzalez apparently initially told investigators that he had not had his son since the weekend prior, but that was busted.  Ernesto took Giovanni to a behavioral therapy appointment on SaturdaySaturday reviews from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The therapist did see Ernesto and Giovanni together and Giovanni was alive and well at that time.  It’s the last known sighting of the little boy.

While Ernesto Gonzalez refuses to talk about his son or about the gash on his hand, police are doing door-to-door searches for Giovanni in the area.  One investigator says that Giovanni may be in Puerto Rico – if he’s alive.

Update 11/26/2008 – Not that I am shocked that Ernesto killed his son, but I am a bit surprised he confessed. His lawyer is none to happy about it either, criticizing The Globe for conducting the interview in the first place. Essex County officials are also skeptical, stating there is no evidence to corroborate what he has admitted to doing. Ernesto says that he didn’t mean to kill Giovanni, that it “just happened.” He told the reporter that Giovanni had been acting up while he was staying with him, and that he tried to ignore it. The stabbing came after Ernesto says Giovanni was standing, yelling in front of the refrigerator. Nest thing he knew, he was stabbing the bioy to death. He also stated he cut up the boy in the bathtub and placed him in 6 separate trash bags. He then got on his bicycle and deposited the bags in separate locations around town.

Officials are skeptical because they state that what he is admitting to have done does not match the evidence they found in the apartment…which was not evidence of anyone being stabbed to death and dismembered. They do not doubt the boy is dead, just the story of how he got that way. When asked why he was talking now, Ernesto replied “I’m going to be here a long time. My son isn’t here. They’re not going to let me go. Why not talk?”