Grandma on the run after kidnapping Florida boy before DCF could take custody, parents arrested: police

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TAVARES, Fla. - An AMBER Alert has been issued for a missing Lake County boy who was allegedly kidnapped by his grandmother on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

Jace Saunders, 5, was last seen in the 1000th block of Wells Avenue in Tavares, wearing the same clothes pictured in the photograph below, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Police said Jace is considered missing and endangered. He reportedly has autism and is semi-verbal.

Jace Saunders (left) and Kelly Day-Dasilva (Credit: Florida Department of Law Enforcement)

He is believed to be with his alleged abductor and grandmother, Kelly Day-Dasilva. They may be traveling in a black Honda Accord.

If you see them, do not approach. Instead, call law enforcement.

What we know

On Sunday, police officers and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) responded to a home on Tara Drive in Tavares to remove Jace from a relative's custody so he could be turned over to DCF custody, according to the Tavares Police Department. Police did not specify who that relative was.

Jace was not at the residence and was reportedly on a golf cart ride with a family friend identified as Mitchell Morris. He was called and told to return Jace. Instead, police said Morris handed Jace over to Day-Dasilva at a park.

He was arrested on a charge of interference with child custody, police said. Jace's parents, Taylor Judy and Brandon Saunders, were also taken into custody on the same charge for "their lack of cooperation" in helping police find their son.

No other details were immediately released.

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