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AMBER Alert cancelled, 5-year-old Charlottesville boy found safe

Bricen Kent Mwanawabene and Kerlie Johnson Gage.png
Posted at 10:52 PM, Jan 18, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-19 07:45:52-05

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - An AMBER Alert is cancelled for a 5-year-old Charlottesville boy who is believed to have been abducted over the weekend. He was found safe Tuesday.

On Monday night, Virginia State Police and the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse issued an AMBER Alert for Bricen Kent Mwanawabene, described as a Black boy who is 3' tall, weighs 45 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.

According to a news release, Mwanawabene was reported missing and last seen at 1528 Cherry Avenue in Charlottesville at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. He was believed to be in extreme danger.

He wore a gray long-sleeve shirt, a blue puff coat, a blue stocking cap and black and green light-up shoes.

Bricen Kent Mwanawabene.PNG
Bricen Kent Mwanawabene

State Police believed Kerlie Johnson Gage abducted Mwanawabene, and she is now in custody. She was described as a Black woman who is 5'4" tall, weighs 250 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.

Kerlie Johnson Gage.PNG
Kerlie Johnson Gage

Officials said Gage was last seen driving a red 1997 Honda CRV with Virginia tags UMM-2229.

Kerlie Johnson Gage AMBER Alert vehicle.PNG

Stay with News 3 for updates.