WILDWOOD CREST, NJ – A Wildwood Crest father flew to gain custody of his son under a court ordered custody agreement, but was unable to find the boy or his mother. A police investigation was also unsuccessful and the boy was entered into the nation’s missing child database.
According to Wildwood Crest police, on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at approximately 4:18 pm, the Wildwood Crest Police Department received a report of a missing child during an exchange of custody of the child after being granted by the court.
The mother, Fernande Metrius, and their 7-year-old son, were unable to be located after the father (a Wildwood Crest resident) flew to Florida to take custody of the child.
“Metrius allegedly changed her phone number and other forms of communication. Police departments in Florida responded to the last known residence of Metrius, but were unable to make contact with her. The child was then entered into a national database as missing,” police reported. “Further investigation ensued by the Wildwood Crest Detective Division and the Cape May County Prosecutors Office. On July 26, 2022, after several additional attempts were made to contact Metrius, a warrant was issued for her arrest for Interference with Child Custody, a second degree crime.”
The United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force assisted in the investigation and made contact with units in Florida who were able to locate Metrius. Metrius was placed under arrest and sent to Palm Beach County Correctional Facility where she awaited extradition to New Jersey. Metrius was then flown to New Jersey and transported to Cape May County Correctional Facility where she awaits a detention hearing.