Mom ‘faked 12-year-old autistic son’s death and left him locked in a motel room for weeks’

A MOTHER allegedly lied about her 12-year-old autistic son’s death when in reality, she had him locked in a motel room.

Vanessa Blanchard, 39, allegedly told a school resource officer from New Providence Middle School on October 29 that her son had died from a seizure two days before.

Vanessa Blanchard was arrested after police found her 12-year-old autistic son locked in a motel room for weeks after Blanchard allegedly told school officials the child had diedCredit: Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

The officer approached the boy’s mother after the school had noticed that he had not been attending classes for some time.

“The kids were so upset the teachers were crying on the phone to the parent,” said Alicia Maslo, a parent.  

“My son came home bawling his eyes out hugging me, talking about how he couldn’t believe he was gone. He was just like, ‘I just saw him, I don’t understand why he’s gone.’”

The boy’s school raised money for his funeral after hearing about his supposed death. School officials contacted Sykes Funeral home to donate the money but were told that no funeral arrangements were made.

The school reached out to Blanchard, who claimed that the boy’s autopsy was still pending. 

However, police later determined on November 16 that the boy’s school laptop was being used at the Vacation Moto Motel. Police found him alive and alone inside a room.

The boy’s mother was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and false impression death, as reported by WZTV.

Blanchard told police that she left her son in the hotel for two weeks and check on him daily or every other day. 

“It’s the most disgusting thing that I could have ever heard,” said Maslo. “I could never imagine my child being gone, let alone lying about it.”

Blanchard has a court appearance scheduled for January 19. She is currently being held in the Montgomery County jail on a $5,000 bond.

Police found that the boy’s school laptop was being used at the Vacation Moto Motel, where the boy was foundCredit: Google