Cuban mother "in panic" after updates in trial against her ex-partner, accused of kidnapping their son in Hialeah

“I am in panic. This tells me that he thinks he did nothing wrong,” says Yanet Leal, the Cuban mother of "Jojo" Morales, regarding the possibility that her ex-partner, who kidnapped the boy in 2022 and even took him to Canada, may receive a reduced sentence.

Jorge Gabriel Morales, the father of "Jojo," was accused in 2022 of kidnapping his son, who was six years old and had autism at the time.

The case, which shocked the Hispanic community in Florida, is now returning to the courts following reports that Morales is considering pleading guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence of seven years in prison.

In his recent appearance before the judge, Morales requested more time to respond to the prosecution's offer.

He also requested to sever ties with his lawyer and to represent himself, a decision that has raised even more concern in the child's mother.

A mother's fear: "I'm terrified of him."

Yanet Leal, who has shouldered the emotional recovery process for her son, says she is terrified at the possibility that Morales could be released sooner than expected.

“I am terrified that he will leave”, Leal declared to Univision.

“I’m very afraid of him, I’m in a panic because look at how he is showing that there is no remorse in his heart,” she added.

For Leal, her ex-partner's attitude shows that he does not take any responsibility for what happened: "This is telling me that he thinks he did nothing wrong. He does not reason."

The mother's fear is not only for the past but also for what could happen if Morales regains his freedom.

Leal fears that neither a restraining order nor a protection order will be sufficient to prevent another kidnapping attempt or greater harm

"They are not going to stop that man from coming to do it again,” he pointed out.

The kidnapping and its impact on Jojo

Jojo Morales disappeared in August 2022. After two months of intense searching, he was found in Canada, where Morales had taken him by crossing the border illegally.

The authorities managed to recover him in good physical condition, but the emotional damage had already been done.

Since then, the boy—who is now nine years old—has received psychological support, working to overcome the trauma of his kidnapping and the emotional manipulation he endured from his father.

“At first, we talked about how he instilled in the boy's mind that before the age of 7 or 8, he had to go to heaven,” the mother recounted.

“So when Jojo turned 9, he was so happy, with a joy… He said, ‘I’m no longer 7, I’m no longer 8, now I’m living my whole life,’” he added.

Leal recalls with anguish the days of uncertainty when he did not know if he would see his son again

"Especially if your child has been telling you for so long that he has to go to heaven before he turns 7 or 8... then, no matter how much hope one tries to hold on to, the uncertainty of not knowing if your child is asking for you; going from holding his little hand every night to not seeing him at all..."

The final hearing is scheduled for this Friday, which is the deadline for the defendant to submit his formal response. If Jorge Morales accepts the prosecution's plea deal and pleads guilty, his sentence could be significantly reduced.

For Yanet Leal, this represents a direct threat to the security and stability she has fought to rebuild alongside her son.

The defendant claims that he did it out of love for his son

In December of last year, Jorge Gabriel Morales appeared in court, where he requested the dismissal of the kidnapping charge.

Jay White, who was then acting as his lawyer, commented that Morales was distressed. According to the attorney, his client admitted that he made a mistake, but he insists that he loves his son.

He acknowledges that he took the child for the wrong reasons, but he says that in his mind he thought he was "trying to help him."

Case background

It was in August 2022 that the case was brought to light through the pleas of Yanet Leal, mother of little Jorge “Jojo” Morales, who was desperately asking to have her son back, kidnapped by the father.

On Saturday, August 27, Jorge Gabriel Morales picked up the boy from the maternal grandmother's house and never returned him. From the beginning, authorities spoke of the alleged complicity of the paternal grandmother, Lilliam Peña Morales.

In mid-October, it was reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was offering a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of the child.

For over two months, the authorities across the country searched for the little boy.

Finally, the boy was found in a Walmart in Canada, in the company of his father and paternal grandmother.

The boy was returned by authorities to the United States, and mother and son had an emotional reunion in Miami.

In February of last year, Lilliam Morales, the paternal grandmother of "Jojo," reached an agreement with the prosecution that allowed her to avoid the kidnapping charge and live freely under 10 years of probation.

Frequently Asked Questions about the "Jojo" Morales Kidnapping Case