Applying for college is every little bit of stressful, nerve wracking and exciting. It's a big step in every student's educational journey that can change their lives forever. Just as 18-year-old Julian Hernandez began his application process, he discovered news that extended far beyond an acceptance letter.
Hernandez first encountered a problem when his social security number wasn't matching up with his name. When his school counselor tried to help him determine why, he discovered that he was on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database. Hernandez was under legal custody of his mother when he disappeared on Aug. 28, 2002. He was just 5 years old then. His father, Bobby Hernandez, had abducted him during a custody dispute, police said. Authorities immediately began a search for Julian following the abduction.
Thirteen years passed, and Hernandez is now 18 years old. The FBI was immediately notified that the teenager living in Cleveland could be Julian Hernandez. "We applaud Julian Hernandez for his courage in taking the first steps to find answers about who he is,” the Center said.
According to the Cleveland Division of the FBI, a woman, and two other children also lived in the Hernandez' home. "He's (referring to Bobby Hernandez) been here three to five years," said Matt MeInyk, the Hernandez family's neighbor, calling the father a "pretty cool guy. I had absolutely no idea this was happening. His son was very quiet, and from what I know, he was a good student."
Bobby Hernandez, 53, was the only person with an idea of what was happening, of course. Because of that, he now has a bond set at $250,000, and a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 12. In addition to the charges in Ohio, Bobby Hernandez will face charges in Jefferson County, Alabama, in the 2002 abduction, along with possible additional charges.
“Our family was overjoyed this week to locate Julian and learn that he is safe. We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during Julian’s disappearance,” Julian's mother said.
This case “is a reminder to all those parents and loved ones who are still searching for a missing child to never give up hope, no matter how long that child has been gone... There are thousands of children who still need to come home and Julian serves as a beacon of hope for their families,” Robert Lowery of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said.
What happens next will be up to Julian Hernandez. As rare as this case proved to be, it shows that we're fully incapable of knowing what can happen to our lives -- the good and the bad.
