Authorities seek family of Spanish-speaking boy

Thursday, June 21, 2001 | 11:23 a.m.

Clark County officials are asking for the public's help in locating the family of a young child known only as "Toddler Juan."

The child, thought to be 3, was found at 7:30 p.m. on June 2 near Maryland Parkway and East Desert Inn Road, county officials said.

"He is a quiet kid, very well-behaved, and we're hoping the community steps up to the plate on this to help reunite him with his parents or other family members," said Carol Stillian, manager of Child Protective Services, a division of Clark County Family and Youth Services.

Officials named the boy "Toddler Juan" because he apparently only speaks and understands Spanish. The boy has light skin, sandy brown hair and brown eyes.

"This an unusual case, and we're asking for all the help we can get on this," said Stillian, who has worked with the agency for 27 years.

Metro Police picked up the child after receiving an anonymous phone call, Stillian said. A woman thought to be the child's mother apparently left the boy with a man she had just met, county officials said. When the woman did not return to pick up the child, the man called police.

Officers took the boy to Family and Youth Services. Two days later agency case workers returned to where the boy was reportedly abandoned and learned that the man who called police had moved and did not leave a forwarding address.

Stillian urged anyone with information about the boy to come forward.

"We want the community to know we're not here to take the child away from his family if he has been a victim of neglect or abuse, nor will we force the family to take him back," said Stillian.

"Juan" has been living in Child Haven, which is operated by Child Protective Services.

"We are breaking a long-standing policy here at the agency by showing 'Toddler Juan's' photo," Child Haven Manager Peggy Leavitt said. "But we are desperate to find the mother or father or any relatives who might know this beautiful boy."

Anyone with information can call (702) 455-5214.