EAST BRUNSWICK — The arrest occurred about 44 hours after the teen was reported missing. Detectives identified several discrepancies in the information obtained during the search for the boy before returning to the residence on Thursday afternoon. Jennifer Buckley was taken into custody at a little after 3:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday.

While the search continued, Jennifer Buckley emailed the high school asking for records during the 44-hour period the boy was reported missing. Matthew Buckley noted the action raised his suspicions. "She had emailed the high school asking for some records and I thought that was fishy," Matthew Buckley said. "If your kid’s missing, why are you going to email the high school about anything?"

Matthew Buckley expressed skepticism regarding his ex-wife's conduct throughout the ordeal. "Honestly, I wasn’t too worried," he said. He added that he recognized her behavior from past experiences. "I knew she was pulling some BS like she always does," he said.

East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco addressed the resource implications of such incidents. "Whenever a juvenile is reported missing, particularly when there are concerns for that child’s safety, our officers take the report seriously and commit the resources necessary to locate them," LoSacco said. He emphasized the impact of deception on public safety operations.

LoSacco stated that providing false data hinders legitimate emergency responses. "Providing false or misleading information to law enforcement undermines those efforts and unnecessarily diverts officers and resources away from members of the community who may need immediate police assistance," he said. The chief also praised the team involved in the case. "I commend the patrol officers, detectives, and other personnel who worked diligently to locate this juvenile and ensure his safety," LoSacco said.

There is no evidence the boy was harmed in any way. The investigation concluded with the discovery of the teen in the basement crawl space and the subsequent arrest of his mother.

Timeline

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Matthew Buckley reported that his son was scheduled to be dropped off at his residence at approximately 6 p.m. but did not arrive. Later that evening, at 7:47 p.m. Matthew Buckley called East Brunswick police to report his son missing. During initial interactions, Jennifer Buckley told police her son was not at her residence and expressed concerns that he may be a danger to himself.

On Thursday, September 17, 2026, police found Jennifer Buckley's 17-year-old son hiding in a crawl space in the basement of her residence. Officers determined the boy had been in the crawl space the whole time and Jennifer Buckley helped conceal him. Jennifer Buckley, 48, was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of administration of law. She was taken into custody at a little after 3:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday.

What's New

Additional reporting confirms that Jennifer Buckley, 48, was arrested in East Brunswick on Thursday, September 17, 2026, on suspicion of obstruction of law after police found her 17-year-old son hiding in a crawl space in her basement. Detectives returned to Jennifer Buckley’s residence to conduct further investigation on Thursday afternoon and located the juvenile hiding inside a crawl space in the basement.

Authorities stated there is no evidence the boy was harmed in any way. Background information identifies Matthew Buckley as a researcher.

Why It Matters

The case shows the strain placed on law enforcement resources when missing person reports involve fabricated information. East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco noted that providing false or misleading information diverts officers from community members who may need immediate police assistance. The 44-hour investigation required significant commitment from patrol officers and detectives to locate the juvenile.

The incident also reflects the role of family dynamics in missing person cases. The father's skepticism regarding the mother's request for school records during the search pointed to underlying tensions. While the teen was found unharmed, the obstruction charge against Jennifer Buckley reflects the legal consequences of hindering such investigations.