NY police: Videos show persons of interest running away from burning van with Florida boy

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Surveillance footage released Thursday afternoon shows two persons of interest in a case involving a 3-year-old Longwood, Florida, boy who was discovered sleeping in a box on the porch of a Buffalo, New York, home.

The Buffalo Police Department said the boy, Noelvin, was discovered at 8 a.m. Monday, 1 mile from a burned-out rental minivan that he, his parents and their friend traveled in during a road trip from central Florida to Upstate New York, WFTV reported.

Investigators said they canvassed the area after Noelvin was discovered but his parents were not found.

At about 6 p.m. Monday, someone called police to report a burned-out vehicle behind a warehouse, investigators said.

Police said Thursday that the remains of two people were discovered in that incinerated Chrysler Pacifica but it will take two to six weeks to identify the remains.

The boy's parents -- Nicole Merced Plaud and Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colon -- and his parents' friend, Dhamyl Mirella Roman-Audiffred, are still considered missing, Buffalo police Capt. Jeff Rinaldo said during a news conference.

During the news conference, Rinaldo played two surveillance videos showing the persons of interest.

The first video shows a person walking toward the van with a T-shirt tied around his head, Rinaldo said. Click here to watch the video.

The second video shows two men and the child running away from what is believed to be the burning van, Rinaldo said.

He said one of the men can be seen setting down two gasoline cans before tying the T-shirt back around his head and running away. Click here to watch the video.

Investigators said the videos were recorded shortly before 3 a.m. Monday.

This is a developing story.

Anyone with information about the deaths is asked to call Buffalo police at 716-851-4466.

Cox Media Group