VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — As law enforcement deployed a massive search effort involving bloodhounds, security footage, drones, helicopters and mounted patrols, the family of a missing Virginia Beach boy has received a ransom request, police said Sunday.
The ransom request was sent to the parents of Juan Sebastian Mejia Acevedo via WhatsApp while they were on Facebook Live, which led Virginia Beach investigators to call the matter a suspected abduction.
WATCH: Ransom request prompts abduction investigation for Virginia Beach boy
Ransom request prompts abduction investigation for Virginia Beach boy
The 12-year-old was believed to be at a friend’s house Friday morning and was reported missing by his parents later that night, authorities said. An Amber Alert was issued Saturday after police said the child was believed to have been abducted around 9 a.m. along the 200 block of Mica Avenue…