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Missing Mom's Youngest Child Missing, Too: Cops

The toddler son of missing mother Linda Fellenbaum has not been seen by his family in months.

 

OUTSIDE CHICAGO, IL -- Detectives trying to unravel the mystery surrounding a local woman who vanished nearly a month ago now are also trying to track down her youngest child.

"There's some question as to his whereabouts," Joliet police Cmdr. Brian Benton said of Linda Fellenbaum's toddler son Jonathan.

Fellenbaum, 33, of Joliet, was last seen Oct. 21. At the time of her disappearance, she was living with her boyfriend of two months, 40-year-old Donald Wolak. Benton said Wolak told detectives he and Fellenbaum argued and she fled his 3608 Crockett Court home barefoot, leaving behind her shoes, cell phone and Toyota Camry.

Fellenbaum has not been seen since. But her 2-year-old-son Jonathan has apparently been missing for even longer.

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Fellenbaum's mother, Deborah Barr of Chicago, said in the wake of her daughter's disappearance that Jonathan was staying "for the summer" with a couple Fellenbaum knew from her church. But on Tuesday, Benton said Fellenbaum's family has not been able to identify this couple, and that they have not actually seen Jonathan in months.

"We've had two different stories on them," Barr said of the couple from the Chicago church. One story makes the couple out to be members of the church, the other has Fellenbaum bringing them in from outside to be Jonathan's godparents.

"Linda knows who they are," Barr said. "I don't know who they are.

"We can't find them," Barr said. "We don't even have a picture of them."

Fellenbaum had spoken to relatives about putting the boy up for adoption, but Benton said there is no evidence of a legal adoption having taken place. Detectives have also found no indication that the boy's paternity has been established, he said.

"The father was also Linda's secret," Barr said.

Fellenbaum has two other children. One lives with his father in Country Club Hills and the other lives in Milwaukee.

Whoever Jonathan's father might be, he has not reached out to the police to find out who has his son, Benton said. In fact, he said, no one has filed a missing person report and even though the Joliet police may not have jurisdiction to investigate Jonathan's disappearance, it seems no other agency has taken on the task.

Detectives have contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services about the missing boy, Benton said.

"Right now, we don't have any assurance a crime has been committed," Benton said. But detectives have given no indication they believe Fellenbaum was the victim of foul play either.

Five days before Fellenbaum vanished, Wolak told the police she stole a "large sum of cash" and a handgun from him, Benton said. When she returned on the night she ended up running off barefoot, Wolak said he expected her to return his gun and money, according to police.

Earlier that day, a Chicago man claims to have met with Fellenbaum for a sex date at a Naperville hotel. The man, who asked not to be identified, said Fellenbaum backed out of the liaison at the last minute.

"We briefly saw each other and she got cold feet," he said, adding, "We never ended up doing anything."

Wolak has failed to respond to numerous attempts to discuss his missing girlfriend. Benton said he has cooperated with detectives.

Related Topics: Child, Foul Play, Missing, Mother, and Search

lala

8:34 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Wow. This story just gets stranger and stranger. Hope all are found safe.

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Clutche

8:35 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Sounds like this woman just took off instead of being a responsible mother

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Christine Freire

1:33 am on Thursday, November 22, 2012

It's the boyfriend, guarenteed. She would not have run off. It sounds like she was being forced to have sex with someone and when she backed out her "coercer" retaliated and possibley killed her. He may have even taken the kid. I've heard some sickness occuring lately that wouldn't surprise me. It's all too sketchy and the boyfriend is new on the scene. Why on earth would anyone leave their whole life behind including her shoes?? And the boyfriend said she stole money and a gun but didn't take the car?? He's lying. He should be a suspect..Why isn't he?

Freddie Kissell

9:07 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The story was strange before, now it's scary.

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Tina

9:40 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Some of this story reminds me of Casey Anthony.

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Sarah Ogeto

10:24 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Just as a follow-up note to the story. The family did attempt to file a missing person's report for Linda's youngest son in Chicago and Hindsdale. They were told that the mother of the child had to file the report. The family was directed to contact DCFS.

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Despiser of Obama

10:05 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Sarah I don't believe the family was told that by the Police. The missing child's father or family can file a report, not just the missing mother.Someone told you bogus information.

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Ernie Knight

10:18 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

As a follow-up to Disciple's response, an in-person missing person report cannot be refused by any Illinois police agency. See Illinois Statute 50 ILCS 722/5.

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Despiser of Obama

2:31 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Ernie the only time the Police aren't required to file a missing person report if the adult went missing and there is no suspicious circumstances or unusual behavior or medical condition. Then the Police can wait 24 hours in filing a report.

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Ernie Knight

2:57 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Check the statute. There is no such exception. If the report is in-person, it MUST be taken. See ilga.gov
Statute is 50 ILCS 722/5

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Ernie Knight

3:33 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Department policy does NOT trump State law. If you are told that an in-person missing person report is not required to be taken, they don't know the law.

Flora Dora

6:33 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Tina, it does sound like Casey Anthony except for this "boyfriend" and the fight. I find it hard to believe that she left her car and cellphone. Why did she consider putting her son up for adoption? Did Wolak object to having a child in his life? Poor little guy.

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KIKI

12:47 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Poor little sweet babe! I hope he is safe with a family instead of hurt or murdered somewhere!

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GAIL HOLLINS

1:27 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

This is by far the strangest story i've ever read, none of what i read makes no sense, I hope all is found safe. May God bless everyone involved..

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artina mcrae

1:27 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

What the hell is going on here..smh praying for this family cause they need all prayer they can get..may the Lord be with them

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sam0828

2:18 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

This "woman" has three kids with 3 different men living in three different places. So sad, but this baby never had a chance.

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millie walker

3:19 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

At the end of the day we don't know what the mother was or has been going thru , let's all pray for her and her youngest sons safe return and for the other 2 kids that may be wondering where the mother and brother are and for the mother of this woman.

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Suz

3:59 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

I smell 2 murders in this story, and several liars

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Despiser of Obama

7:09 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Ernie I stand corrected . I've been out of the loop a bit. The new guide lines for a missing person report became law in 2007. How times change.

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Bernhard Armstrong

7:38 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Oh the webs we weave and the evils we foster…. all in the name of love…..
and way too often it's the babies and kids that are sacrificed in the end.
Anymore 'love' is as no more meaningful to some as that other four letter word they call love.. A huge segment of our society has become truly sickening.

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CAMERON

7:44 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

3 kids. But youngest. Lefted with strangers? Also missing. Was the mom a call girl? I wonder. Left barefoot. No car. Or cell. Guessing. She was in a hurry

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gary engen

6:38 pm on Thursday, November 22, 2012

The last two sentences, like the story itself, are strange, but they are also quite obviously illogical.

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Marty Kwilosz

11:53 pm on Thursday, November 22, 2012

uncool all around. I hope this gets sorted quick.

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toldya

11:08 am on Friday, November 30, 2012

All I have to say is ....I told ya..found in ga arrested on more theft charges ..lolololo

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.

5:32 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012

TOLDYA AKA DONALD YOUR CHARGES ON LINDA FAILED WHEN THEY FOUND YOUR GUN IN YOUR BEDROOM DURING SEARCH OF YOUR HOUSE!

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