Brooklyn, NY – UPDATE: Search Continues for Missing Borough Park Boy; Hikind Offers Reward

    85

    Volunteers gather early this morning at the Flatbush mobile command center to get instructions in helping in the search. Photo: EliBrooklyn, NY – Hundreds of volunteers searched throughout the night for Leibby Kletzky, the nine year old boy who has been missing since 5 PM last night, when he failed to come home from the Boyan Day Camp on 44th Street between 12th and 13th Avenues.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Boro Park, Flatbush and Williamsburg Shomrim joined forces with the NYPD, including K9 and aviation units, as they combed streets, alleys and backyards in search of the missing boy, who was wearing a grey and light blue striped shirt, navy pants, black sneakers and a knapsack bearing the words “Nechmod Day Camp” at the time of his disappearance. In just hours, the streets of Boro Park have been plastered with posters of Leibby and Shomrim is going house to house in the area. Automated calls have gone out to residents asking them to check their property for the missing boy.

    Volunteers thought they had a lead when they discovered this morning a bag from Nechmod Day Camp under a car, but it was determined to be a disposable bag and not relevant to the case.

    While initial reports indicated that surveillance cameras had spotted Leibby walking on 13th Avenue until 50th Street, careful scrutiny by Leibby’s parents have determined that he is not the boy in the video. The only confirmed video sighting of the youth is on a camera showing him leaving the Boyan Camp on 44th Street.

    With the dawn of a new day, the search has intensified and volunteers are hoping that as stores open for the day they will hopefully be able to acquire more security tapes from nearby businesses that can provide more clues to the whereabouts of the missing boy. Additionally, volunteers will search stores to determine if Leibby was accidentally locked inside one of the stores.

    Shomrim are circling the streets of Boro Park, with loudspeakers on their vehicles, asking anyone who has any information regarding the whereabouts of Leibby Kletzky to please contact them immediately.

    Volunteers will also be on hand when the Boyan Day Camp opens this morning at 9:30 AM, in case the boy returns there this morning.

    “We are requesting that everyone stay alert,” said Chaim Deutsch of Flatbush Shomrim in an interview with VIN News. “If anyone sees anything at all, they are requested to call us at 718 871 6666.”

    Approximately 100 to 150 volunteers are on hand this morning to continue the search and anyone who is able to help out can come to the command center at 15th Avenue and 57th Street in Boro Park.

    A Facebook post by Kristin Thorne, a reporter for CBS News states “I’ve never seen such a community effort to find a missing child.”

    “We have 2,000 people searching for the kid. We went through every backyard, every front yard, every possibility,” search coordinator Shaya Lichtenstein told WCBS 880′s Mike Xirinachs.

    Meanwhile, this morning Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the safe return of the nine-year-old boy.

    “This is every parent’s and every community’s worst nightmare,” said Hikind. “Anyone with credible information of Leibby’s whereabouts should immediately contact the authorities. NYPD and the Shomrim are working in tandem to bring about Leibby’s safe return.”

    Hikind praised the tremendous efforts of the NYPD; the Boro Park, Flatbush, and Williamsburg Shomrim; as well as hundreds of volunteers who have been combing the area searching for Leibby since last night.

    “Somebody had to have seen something,” remarked Hikind. “Even the tiniest detail that may seem irrelevant to you could be a vital piece of information.”

    Video below from late last night inside mobile command.

    Photos below from early this morning.
    A news crew stationed on 15th Ave

    command post.  Photo: Eli

    A television reporter arriving early this morning in Borough Park

    CBS TV.  Photo: Eli

    Posters hung up on the street.  Photo: Eli

    Photos below from last night. Credit: Eli


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    85 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    shooki
    shooki
    12 years ago

    Kidush hashem.

    Samckatz
    Samckatz
    12 years ago

    Holy G-D creator of all heavens I’m begging you please return this sweet little heilige zise neshomele to his parents alive and well. Please G-D show us mercy. אמן כן יהי רצון

    Peter
    Peter
    12 years ago

    May Hashem safely return this boy to his family.

    sechelhayoshor
    sechelhayoshor
    12 years ago

    Has anyone questioned the counselors/ staff at the day camp? Was he afraid to go home for any reason? In lakewood a few months ago a kid went missing and he was found late at night hiding in a shed. He said that he had made trouble that day in yeshiva and he was afraid that his father would hit him when he gets home. Also, his parents should be questioned. Why isn’t there more police involvement in the case? If they are concerned about kidnapping, the FBI should be called in. I am sure that the askonim have thought of all these options. Let’s all work together to find him. T’fillos work. Let’s all daven for yehudah b-n ita esther.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    Either possibilities could of happened. Either the boy ended up in a store that was closing,or we need to see if there is any divorce custody battle which seems unlikly or it would be mentioned or possible fowl play. His classmates,rebbes, staff at the daycamp need to be checked out. Also to find out if this kid is adveturous or depressed. Relatives should also be investigated for possible fowl play. Maybe the boy got a hitch with an individual he may of been familiar. His relationship with his family should be checked out as well.
    All stores must be checked out.

    bahby
    bahby
    12 years ago

    Has anyone checked out the missionaries who are operating in our neighborhood?

    lbpss
    lbpss
    12 years ago

    Thanks for all great ideas there is a family out there missing a child that you don’t know the history so stop judging and say tehillim.

    12 years ago

    i agree say tehilim maybe even a minian should get together in shul

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    By noon every boro park store should be open so. Checking their storefront displays,basements and bathrooms will be done. No one just disappears from the face of the earth especially in boro park. Maybe he took a train and got lost. If it was an act of terrorism the fbi will step in. Time will tell or maybe he got locked in the yeshiva building while going back for something he left.

    Ploini
    Ploini
    12 years ago

    in such a situation we must question everything. Where did his mother want to take him from 13 & 44, maybe he went there or tried to get there, and lost his way.

    Ploini
    Ploini
    12 years ago

    #4 and #5 are right, we must must question EVERYTHING, every single possibility.

    lakewoodshas
    lakewoodshas
    12 years ago

    the shomrim should check the entire avenue plaza hotel he gone in there as well.

    Lokson-Dryer
    Lokson-Dryer
    12 years ago

    I personly spoke this morning to the Camp Head Councler, he says that 100% the kid left the building at 5:00 together with all campers, the building qas checked a million times this night. People! dont be stupid and dont write stupid comments and stupid ideas like: “go check the building” 100s of volunteers did this work already seeking in all common places. And this kid is a normal kid with normal happy parents, its not nice when someone has a Tzorah to start pouring salt on the parents wounds that they have problems, specialy when its false.

    12 years ago

    why is there even a discussion about wat was wrong!?!?!?!?!?!?!? u guys are soooo worried about pointing out every1s faults…fix your own!!!!there is a child missing!!! lets all daven and beg hashem for the safe return!!it cud happen 2 any1, couselors watching or not!!hashem was gozer it shud happen!!!true, we may take precautions to prevent another occurence, but lets talk about that after this tragedy is finished!!!imagine the child’s family reading this, sum comments have chizuk, but imagine how broken they wud b to see that all “frum caring” jews talk about isnt the tragedy, but the faults!!!!!!! all of us (besides those pessimistic few) are constantly davening and lerning in the boys zchus!!!he is always in our minds and hearts!!! may we only have yeshuos!!!a gud start is to have some sensitivity!!!!!!!! achdus!!!!!!! veohavta lerayacha kamocha!!!!!

    12 years ago

    We need Rachmei Shomayim.
    We should take upon ourselves, that we will always worry, the same, about the fate of any child, whether a Yid or not a Yid. We will never make any distinction.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    Hopefully it will turn out ok and the child will just have wandered off somewhere and will show up soon as is frequently the case with these missing person reports involving younger children. Fewer than 20 percent of the cases like this involve either an abduction or some form of foul play. Sadly, many cases involve domestic disputes which I’m sure the police are fully investigating.

    Yidaleh
    Yidaleh
    12 years ago

    Trahct gut vet main gut

    mit aisle thilim

    Butterfly
    Butterfly
    12 years ago

    If he walked to 50th street, could he have taken a bus or a van B11 or an to Crown Hts??

    njmom
    njmom
    12 years ago

    i can’t even imagine how worried this poor kid’s family is. it’s every parent’s worst nightmare. i hope hashem delivers him swiftly and safely back into their arms. daven people…

    eighthcomment
    eighthcomment
    12 years ago

    Are any of you commenters actually searching

    noahz6
    noahz6
    12 years ago

    its about time to install cameras on every corner. shomrim could make it into a big campaign. it could be great help in many cases.

    thatguy
    thatguy
    12 years ago

    IMHO $5,000 is a very small reward.
    I do not know how to do these things but perhaps somebody can set up a fund that people can donate to increase the reward. If the reward was more substantial, say $100,000 or more then there would likely be people from outside our community that would join and help.
    Start the fund. Get the message out via posters around the entire tri-state area and the web that there is a massive reward being offered – and above all, daven.

    12 years ago

    As I am out of town this week for business, I just wana throw inn some important notes.
    Have the police or Dov Hikend contact all airports, all border crossing, all local ferry and bus stations. To co their cameras. Be aware that in our days are around many local shmutsiga people hunting for young boys and overnight may got scared by the alarm of the seartch. etc. etc.

    bpmommy
    bpmommy
    12 years ago

    reading some of these comments makes me want to scream HOW DARE YOU??
    as a mother my heart breaks for his mother and family. i was up the entire night this makes me feel sick to my stomach. all of you judgers out there, get off your backsides and help those askanim and volunteers bring little LEIBY home safely to his parents! get a tehillim, visit a sick person do something and maybe in your zechus this story will have a happy ending very soon. it is very easy to judge when it isnt your tzara. hashem is our judge…and to all of you reading this, please be more careful with your children. our community is NOT as safe as you might think it is. there are many different elements lurking and we need hundreds of pairs of eyes to watch over our precious neshamas but most of all we need hashem to protect and watch over us every second. please keep your negative and nasty comments to yourself and do something positive instead!! hopefully very soon we will hear the great news of his safe return!

    Reb Yid
    Reb Yid
    12 years ago

    Was there a bus or did someone pick him up?

    12 years ago

    I know the askonim, police, etc are thinking of every possibility. Many possibilities are also mentioned here. There is one I haven’t seen ,entioned and I think it should be looked at.

    He could be in a car.
    What do I mean? There could be many avenues to look at. Look into all.

    avrumie
    avrumie
    12 years ago

    Maybe if the mother said to meet him at 50th st the boy might have walked towards the avenues…looking for 50th..I hope shomrim is taking this into account…

    Barryfrombrooklyn
    Barryfrombrooklyn
    12 years ago

    Just spoke to Dov Hikind, reward upped to $25,000

    avrumie
    avrumie
    12 years ago

    Maybe if the mother said to meet him at 50th st the boy might have walked towards the avenues…looking for 50th..I hope shomrim is taking this into account…

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    If Hikind is offering a $5,000 reward because he believes someone “knows somthing ” or “saw somthing”and needs to be paid off to come forward with the information, I worry about what he thinks might of happend.

    bpmommy
    bpmommy
    12 years ago

    please stop pointing fingers. the NYPD has been involved all night. we need hashems help more than anything else. let me not waste time responding to ignorant hateful comments. i will go say some tehillim for LEIBY and his family and give tzedaka in his name. i suggest all of you do the same.

    bpmommy
    bpmommy
    12 years ago

    no one needs our ideas! what is needed now is tefillos! please all of you say one kapitel of tehillim….we need rachmei shomayim….

    12 years ago

    Kosher cell phone might have been helpful in this case, or at least 2 way small radio, one can buy at any 99c store, and keep in his pocket.

    davidt23
    davidt23
    12 years ago

    Well said #27 and #37 .

    ahron
    ahron
    12 years ago

    it’s easy to ignore when you vile people exploit any situation to promote your personal hatred and agenda, but there does come a point when it it is too much to stomach. what kind of heartless person uses the disappearance of a child to spew venom and hate. it is at times like this that the mask of your anger is ripped off and your true colors are realized. you have no legitimate complaints, just a sorry existence that you must constantly justify.
    i dare say that if this was your child missing you would not be as comfortable blaming the community or yourselves like you have heartlessly chosen to do hear.
    chazal says that what differentiates jew’s amongst other things is that we are rachmonim bnei rachmonim, meaning our sense of empathy is our natural first reaction. i feel for you that your hate anger and some might say personal guilt have supplanted your natural intuition.
    use this opportunity as a time to reflect on what drives and compels your anger. these forums are not a therapist couch and should not be a way for you to regurgitate the sins of your past or the sins of your parents. find a different outlet to let out your anger and please spare us.

    Insider
    Insider
    12 years ago

    NYPD Mounted Police have arrived. They will be conducting searches on horseback. May Heaven grant them success.

    Lokson-Dryer
    Lokson-Dryer
    12 years ago

    Update: 2 kids were yesterday late afternoon called into a car by a African-American driver that they should get in fast, but they ran away, as soon as Shomrim got this info in middle the night they woke the 2 kids to get a description of the driver and the car since it might link. If so. its bad news! i am affraid to say but ut seems like he was kidnapped not lost, since if he would be lost he would be found long ago, Boro Park is not that big.

    Its-Me
    Its-Me
    12 years ago

    Don’t keep your head here and post your none sense!!! Do something to help this little boy… Say tehillem, give tzedaka, take upon yourself something… HELP OUT!!!

    shooki
    shooki
    12 years ago

    Number #44 . How disgusting to say you would rather have a missing person once in a while than cameras on corners. If it were ur child u’d be singing differently.

    YidishThinking
    YidishThinking
    12 years ago

    My mind goes that he may be hiding in plain sight.

    Not that there is any chance – up to this point – that he’s hiding, but sometimes real simple places can be overlooked by thinking that EVERYBODY would look there or ANYBODY would have locate him there.

    I am leaving my office now, i am going to spend as much as it takes to go over EVERY route he might have considered walking that 2 blocks from day camp to meet his mother.

    I suggest any HOME OWNER in that stretch to check once again their front and back yard, garage, between the bushes. Every STORE OWNER to check the bathrooms the washrooms, the other end of the store, and for sure every SHULL small to big go check every corner and any place where a 9 year old fits in, (even between the soda machine and the wall…).

    Yesterday was an extreme hot humid day he may fell ill etc. so by looking, you have to think of the possibility he’s not on his feet. Enough said.

    I BELIEVE WE ARE IN A PIKIOCH NEFESH MODE AND EVERY YID IN NY HAS TO JOIN.

    Phoenix
    Phoenix
    12 years ago

    I must have missed this poor yingel’s name for tehillim. Does anyone have the full name?

    12 years ago

    We should all just say Shema. We should be telling hashem now as always that he is in charge, not us. Lets recognize that a little more today. He will then with hashems hand, be found.

    speakup
    speakup
    12 years ago

    Has anyone spoken to the car service drivers? They notice people walking by, they would notice something unusual or out of the norm, they have cars, they might have seen something or might remember something…….

    Mikerose
    Mikerose
    12 years ago

    do the mail carriers who walk the streets all day have pics ? Let’s hope for some good news already and btw keep your eyes open get on the streets not on the computer !! I’m on the street looking with my blackberry