Angry Text Message Raises Concerns For Missing Boy

The foster father of a missing Oakland 5-year-old boy sent a text message days before his disappearance threatening to leave the youngster unattended at a BART station, according to court documents released Thursday.

In an affidavit filed to obtain a search warrant of the home where Hasanni Campbell lives in Fremont with his foster parents, Louis Ross and Jennifer Campbell, Oakland police said they found an expletive laced text message on Ross’ cell phone.

According to the document, the message sent to Jennifer Campbell said: “This is [expletive] over. I will watch [Hasanni’s sister] but he will be on the BART…”

The investigating officers also told the court that Ross had “also voiced some misgivings about caring for a developmentally disabled child” and added that neighbors had not seen Hasanni for about two weeks.

The latest revelations came less than 24 hours after authorities confirmed to KTVU that Ross had failed a FBI lie detector test.

Hasanni Campbell was reported missing from the parking lot of the Shuz of Rockridge shoe store in the 6000 block of College Avenue in Oakland about 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 10.

On Wednesday, KTVU obtained the original warrant issued to search the Campbell's Fremont home.

The warrant was issued at 5:45 a.m. on the day after Hasanni went missing. The warrant allowed police to search inside the house where Hasanni lived as well as a 2002 BMW belonging to Ross

According to the warrant, police searched for biological evidence belonging to Hasanni, and a sword or cutting instrument.

KTVU also has obtained the inventory sheet that listed what officers took during the search. The list included one pair of latex gloves taken from the vehicle as well as eight DNA swabs and four fingerprint lifts taken from the car.

The inventory sheet shows no items were taken from the home, though Ross has said officers took a cell phone and paperwork.

KTVU also learned from authorities that certain evidence indicates it is unlikely Hasanni wandered off.

Law enforcement sources told KTVU that search dogs never led their handlers on what's called a "hot trail" on the afternoon Hasanni disappeared, meaning the dogs never picked up a scent that led handlers away from the lot.

Sources said the dogs did pick up Hasanni's scent inside Ross's BMW. They said the boy was either snatched by someone as he was standing by the car or he was never in the back lot that day.

KTVU also learned that the boy's foster mother Jennifer Campbell arrived at the shoe store where she works sometime between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the day Hasanni went missing.

Additionally, two workers at an auto salvage yard in Hayward reported seeing Ross and Hasanni in the BMW that same morning.

On Wednesday, KTVU spoke with the father of two young daughters who lives adjacent to the lot. He says it's hard to fathom how a child could go missing without anyone seeing him.

"There's so much traffic. There's a lot of pedestrian traffic; cars coming and going at all times. There's restaurants right across the street," said Rockridge resident Steve Shochet. "It's hard to understand how someone could potentially kidnap a child with so many people who could be witnesses."

Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said Wednesday that police remain "very concerned" about a 5-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who has now been missing for nine days.

Thomason said police are still treating Hasanni's disappearance as a missing persons case and that there is no evidence a crime has been committed.

"We're asking the public to call if they have any credible tips," Thomason said.

He said police have followed up on all of the approximately 50 tips they've received so far but none have panned out.

Thomason said people with information on the case should call the Oakland Police Department or Crime Stoppers at (510) 777-8572 or (510) 777-3211