Milwaukee police: 3 critical missing children found safe

Updated: 4:14 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2023

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Police say the McCottry children have been found safe. 

Updated: 3:46 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2023

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee police are asking for the public's help in finding three critical missing children: Cedrion D. McCottry, Mercedes T. McCottry, and Cedrinique S. McCottry.

The kids were last seen on Friday, Sept. 15 around 2:21 p.m. leaving Benjamin Franklin school, which is located at 2308 W Nash St., on foot.

According to the school's website, that was four minutes ahead of dismissal time.

Cedrion is described as a Black boy who is 11 years old, stands 5'06", weighs 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and black pants. In the attached photo, he is wearing an orange shirt.

Mercedes is described as a Black girl who is 10 years old, stands 5'07", weighs 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and black pants. In the attached photo, she is wearing a red shirt.

Cedrinique is described as a Black girl who is 7 years old, stands 4'04", weighs 80 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt and glasses. In the attached photo, she is wearing a pink shirt.

Some people on social media questioned why an Amber Alert was not issued.

In a statement Monday Sept. 18, Milwaukee Police Department told CBS 58 News:

"They do not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert as they are only a critical missing because of their age and not because they are suspected of being in any danger."

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson was asked at a news conference Monday morning if the mayor's office was looking into how they were simply able to walk away without any adults noticing.

"That's concerning to me as well, I'm a father of three children too and it's a school I believe my younger sister attended some years ago when she was in elementary school," Johnson said. "The police department is leading, you know, those investigations on that, again, I think what's important right now is for all of us to put our efforts in making sure those kids come back home safely."

CBS 58 News also reached out to Benjamin Franklin School, and they were not able to comment. They redirected our inquiry to Milwaukee Public Schools and a spokesperson said:

"The safety and wellbeing of students is our number one priority. In accordance with District policy and Federal and State law, the District does not comment on the circumstances of individual students and families."

Anyone with information on the McCottry children's location is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Sensitive Crimes Division at (414) 935-7405.