Essex DA appeals for help in finding boy, 5

LYNN - Determined to keep searching for a missing 5-year-old boy, a top Essex County prosecutor appealed again yesterday for the public's help in finding the child, who was last seen in August while visiting his father.

"We'd like the public to call, and we'd like the public to call and tell us something we don't already know," said John Dawley, first assistant Essex district attorney. "We need their help."

The child, Giovanni Gonzalez, was last seen Aug. 16 with his father, Ernesto Gonzalez, Jr., with whom he had gone to spend the weekend, according to court records.

After the boy's mother, Daisy Colon of East Boston, went to pick him up, Gonzalez denied to police that he had had the child. He was subsequently arrested, charged with child endangerment, and is being held on $500,000 cash bail.

Dawley spoke to reporters in Lynn District Court yesterday, following a brief status hearing for the missing boy's father. At the request of his attorney, Gonzalez did not come into the courtroom. Colon, who has repeatedly said she believes her son is alive, attended the hearing.

She left the courthouse, disappointed that she is no closer to finding her son, a frustration shared by Dawley and investigators from Lynn and State Police and several federal agencies engaged in the search.

"The frustrating point is that we've not found Giovanni," said Dawley. "The frustrating point is dealing with the frustration and emotions that his mother and his family have, and we are not able to comfort them. We are not able to give them the one point of hope and bright light they are looking for."

Gonzalez is due back in court Nov. 18.

John Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com.