Missing Middletown Boy, 4, Found Safe; 2 In Custody: Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A missing 4-year-old Middletown boy was found safe in Wethersfield on Tuesday night and two people were arrested in connection with the case, according to police.

Middletown police were alerted around 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday that Armel Muhammad was missing, according to Lt. Brian Hubbs. Muhammad was last seen around 9 p.m. Monday in New Britain, Hubbs said.

Muhammad was left in his uncle's care and when his uncle left for work, he remained in the care of a family friend identified as Stephanie Fonda, 39, according to Hubbs.

Hubbs said Fonda took the uncle's vehicle without permission, and she was last seen driving a blue 2010 Chevy Malibu. She was believed to be with her husband, 37-year-old David Fonda, according to Hubbs.

Muhammad was found at the 5th Avenue Motel at 1695 Berlin Turnpike in Wethersfield, according to Hubbs.

Wethersfield police received two separate 911 calls reporting the vehicle mentioned in the Amber Alert was parked and unoccupied at the motel, according to Wethersfield Police Lt. Donald Crabtree.

Crabtree said officers from both the Wethersfield and New Britain police departments responded to the motel.

Wethersfield police found the vehicle and officers received a report of people possibly in the large wooded area behind the property. A Wethersfield K-9 officer was at the scene and as he began his search, two adults were found about 20 yards into the woods, according to Crabtree.

Muhammad was also found with the adults. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and the two adults were taken into custody without incident, according to Crabtree.

David Fonda was arrested by Wethersfield police and charged with risk of injury to a minor and second-degree reckless endangerment. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday morning.

Stephanie Fonda was turned over to the Rocky Hill Police Department on an active arrest warrant, according to Crabtree. Possible charges related to the Amber Alert incident are pending, Crabtree said.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.