Yanet Leal, a Cuban mother, is gripped with fear over the possibility that her ex-partner, who abducted their son "Jojo" Morales in 2022 and fled to Canada, might receive a reduced sentence. "I'm terrified. This tells me he believes he did nothing wrong," Leal expressed, concerned about the potential reduction of Jorge Gabriel Morales' prison term to seven years.
In 2022, Jorge Gabriel Morales was charged with the kidnapping of his then six-year-old autistic son. The incident deeply impacted the Hispanic community in Florida. Recently, Morales has been contemplating a guilty plea in exchange for a lesser sentence. During a recent court appearance, he requested more time to consider the plea deal and expressed a desire to dismiss his lawyer to represent himself, a move that has heightened Leal's fears.
The Anxiety of a Mother: "I'm Terrified"
Yanet Leal, who has been helping her son recover emotionally, is alarmed by the prospect of Morales being released sooner than expected. "I'm terrified of him getting out," she told Univision. "I'm very scared; this shows he has no remorse in his heart," she added. For Leal, Morales' behavior indicates he refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing: "This tells me he thinks he did nothing wrong. He doesn't reason."
Leal's fear extends beyond past events to what might happen if Morales is freed. She worries that neither a restraining order nor a protection order would prevent another kidnapping attempt or worse: "They won't stop him from trying again," she stated.
The Impact of the Kidnapping on Jojo
Jojo Morales vanished in August 2022. After a two-month search, he was located in Canada, where Morales had taken him across the border illegally. Although authorities found him physically safe, the emotional trauma was significant. Since then, Jojo—now nine—has been receiving psychological support to overcome the ordeal and emotional manipulation by his father.
"Initially, we'd talk about how he was told by his father that he had to go to heaven before turning 7 or 8," Leal recounted. "So when Jojo turned 9, he was overjoyed, saying, 'I'm not 7, I'm not 8, I get to live a full life,'" she added. Leal remembers the agonizing uncertainty when she didn't know if she would see her son again: "When your child keeps saying they have to go to heaven before 7 or 8, it's hard to hold onto hope."
The final hearing is set for this Friday, the deadline for Morales to formally respond to the prosecution's offer. If he accepts and pleads guilty, his sentence could be significantly reduced. For Leal, this poses a direct threat to the safety and stability she has fought to restore with her son.
The Accused Claims He Acted Out of Love
In December of last year, Jorge Gabriel Morales appeared in court, requesting the kidnapping charge be dropped. His then-lawyer, Jay White, noted Morales was distressed, admitting to making a mistake but insisting he loves his son. Morales acknowledged taking Jojo for the wrong reasons but claimed he believed he was "trying to help him."
Background of the Case
The case first gained attention in August 2022 when Yanet Leal pleaded for the return of her son, kidnapped by his father. On Saturday, August 27, Jorge Gabriel Morales picked up Jojo from his maternal grandmother's home and never returned him. Authorities suspected the involvement of the paternal grandmother, Lilliam Peña Morales, from the beginning.
By mid-October, the FBI offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Jojo's whereabouts. A nationwide search ensued for over two months until Jojo was discovered in a Walmart in Canada with his father and paternal grandmother. The child was returned to the United States, and he and his mother had a touching reunion in Miami.
In February of the past year, Lilliam Morales, Jojo's paternal grandmother, reached an agreement with the prosecution, allowing her to avoid kidnapping charges and live under 10 years of probation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Jojo Morales Kidnapping Case
What is the current status of Jorge Gabriel Morales' case?
Jorge Gabriel Morales is considering pleading guilty to reduce his sentence to seven years. The final hearing is set for this Friday, where he needs to respond to the plea deal.
How has the kidnapping affected Jojo Morales?
Jojo Morales has been receiving psychological support to cope with the emotional trauma of the kidnapping and manipulation by his father. He is now nine years old and working on his recovery.
What actions did the authorities take to find Jojo?
The FBI offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Jojo's whereabouts, and a nationwide search lasted over two months until he was found in Canada with his father and grandmother.