A 9-year-old Miami Gardens boy became the focus of an urgent Amber Alert Tuesday after authorities reported he was removed from school transportation by his non-custodial mother. Liam Smith, described as feet tall with black dreads and a light blue uniform shirt, allegedly disappeared with 45-year-old Tameeka Budwah.
Conflicting reports emerged about their vehicle: initial alerts described a 200 Honda Civic with tag RJVL, while updated bulletins identified a 202 black Honda Civic with tags RJVLS or RJVL traveling northbound. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement emphasized Liam’s distinguishing feature—a scab under his eye—and noted Budwah’s non-custodial status.
The alert was later canceled after authorities located the child, though official recovery details remain undisclosed. Miami Gardens police had urged the public to report sightings through dedicated hotlines, highlighting the case’s inclusion in Florida’s upgraded Amber Alert system, which has facilitated successful child recoveries since.
This incident marks the latest test for Florida’s emergency alert infrastructure, which now pushes notifications through lottery terminals and search engines alongside traditional media. While the resolution brings relief, discrepancies in vehicle descriptions during the active search underscore communication challenges in fast-moving abduction cases.
