On August 23, 2024, at 11:15 a.m., the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued a critical update to a previously released endangered child alert, adding a photo of 5-year-old Amirr Warren in the ongoing search for three missing children from Knoxville, Tennessee. The three children — 12-year-old Aki-Bakari Warren, 8-year-old Amena Hood, and 5-year-old Amirr Warren — were reported missing and are believed to be in the company of their non-custodial father, 43-year-old Aki Warren. With authorities unable to make contact with Warren, and fears for the children’s safety growing, the Knoxville Police Department and TBI are urgently asking for the public’s assistance in locating the missing children.
The alert was first issued by the TBI on behalf of the Knoxville Police Department (KPD), which has been working around the clock to locate the children. The situation has raised grave concerns about the safety of Aki-Bakari, Amena, and Amirr, given the complexities surrounding the custody issues between their father and their custodial parent. The authorities’ inability to contact Warren has only intensified the urgency of the search, as more time passes without any updates on the children’s well-being.
The case began unfolding when the children were reported missing by their custodial parent after a routine custody exchange failed to take place. The non-custodial father, Aki Warren, had legal visitation rights but was not authorized to have primary custody of the children. This situation, all too familiar in cases involving custody disputes, underscores the difficulties families can face when parental rights and responsibilities are contested. Unfortunately, what should have been a simple custody exchange has now escalated into a statewide alert and a potential child abduction case, sending shockwaves through the Knoxville community.
According to the Knoxville Police Department, efforts to contact Aki Warren have been met with silence. Multiple attempts to reach him via phone calls, messages, and visits to known addresses have yielded no results, leading the authorities to suspect that Warren may be intentionally avoiding contact and possibly on the run with the children. While there is no immediate evidence to suggest that the children are in imminent physical danger, the nature of the situation has led law enforcement to categorize the case as a high-priority endangered child alert, given the non-custodial status of Warren and the potential risk associated with his actions.
Details about the three children have been released to the public in hopes that someone may have seen them or can provide vital information regarding their whereabouts. The oldest child, Aki-Bakari Warren, is described as a 12-year-old boy with a slender build, dark brown hair, and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie with white lettering and jeans. His younger sibling, 8-year-old Amena Hood, has shoulder-length curly hair, dark brown eyes, and a bright smile that has been the subject of many shared memories from her loved ones. Amena was last seen in a pink dress with white polka dots and carrying a small backpack decorated with cartoon characters. The youngest of the three, 5-year-old Amirr Warren, whose photo was released in the latest update, is described as having a playful demeanor and a love for toy cars and action figures. He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt and gray shorts, and authorities have asked anyone who may have seen a child matching this description to come forward immediately.
While the details surrounding the custody arrangement between Warren and the children’s custodial parent have not been fully disclosed, it is understood that Warren had visitation rights but had no legal standing to retain custody of the children outside of the agreed-upon times. Custody disputes like this one often highlight the challenges faced by both law enforcement and families when a parent, driven by fear, desperation, or a misguided sense of protection, chooses to act outside of legal parameters. What began as a dispute over visitation rights has now grown into a statewide search involving multiple law enforcement agencies, as the situation has taken on an increasingly precarious tone.
The emotional toll on the custodial parent, family members, and friends of the children is immeasurable. The unknown whereabouts of the children have left their loved ones in a state of deep anguish, torn between hope and despair as they wait for any sign of their safe return. The Knoxville Police Department has continued to keep communication lines open with the family, offering updates as the search progresses, but the tension and anxiety remain palpable with each passing hour.
Authorities have also called upon the public to assist in the search. In situations like these, public awareness and engagement are often crucial in locating missing persons. Local media outlets have circulated photographs of the children and their father, and the TBI has set up a dedicated hotline for tips and information. The number to call with any information on the case is 1-800-TBI-FIND, and authorities are urging anyone who may have seen the children or Aki Warren to come forward, no matter how seemingly insignificant the information may appear. Even the smallest lead could help investigators narrow down the search and bring the children home safely.
Public tips have already begun trickling in, with some reports suggesting possible sightings of the group in various locations throughout Tennessee. However, none of these sightings have been confirmed, and law enforcement officials are careful to avoid drawing premature conclusions. They are instead following up on every credible lead in the hopes that one will eventually point them in the right direction.
Adding to the complexity of the search is the question of Aki Warren’s motives and mental state. Friends and family members have described him as a loving father, but there are concerns that his actions in taking the children without legal authorization may stem from heightened emotions related to the custody battle. Cases of parental abduction often involve a range of motivations, from fears of losing access to one’s children to misguided attempts to protect them from perceived threats. In some cases, these actions may be driven by mental health issues, adding another layer of difficulty for investigators trying to predict Warren’s behavior and plan their search strategy accordingly.
Regardless of Warren’s motivations, the focus remains on locating the children and ensuring their safety. The TBI, along with local and state law enforcement, has employed a range of investigative techniques, including tracking potential digital footprints, monitoring traffic cameras, and working with interstate law enforcement agencies in case Warren has crossed state lines. There are also ongoing efforts to engage the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which has resources and expertise in cases involving child abduction.
As the search intensifies, there is a growing sense of urgency among both law enforcement and the community. The safety and well-being of 12-year-old Aki-Bakari, 8-year-old Amena, and 5-year-old Amirr are the highest priorities. The longer the children remain missing, the more the situation weighs on the hearts and minds of everyone involved. Every hour counts, and the authorities are relentless in their efforts to find the children and bring them back to their loved ones.
In the midst of this crisis, the Knoxville community has come together in support of the missing children and their family. Vigil services have been held, where community members gather to pray for the children’s safe return. Social media platforms have been flooded with posts and shares of the TBI’s endangered child alert, as well as photos and descriptions of the children. The collective hope is that someone, somewhere, will recognize the children or their father and provide the crucial information needed to resolve this case.
For now, all eyes remain on the ongoing investigation, with everyone anxiously awaiting the moment when the children are found and reunited with their family. The Knoxville Police Department and TBI continue to follow every lead, knowing that their persistence could mean the difference between tragedy and a joyful reunion. The community, though shaken and deeply concerned, holds onto hope, believing that the children will be found safe and that justice will be served in ensuring their protection.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are also likely to examine the broader implications of custody-related child abductions, questioning how these incidents can be prevented and what safeguards might be put in place to protect vulnerable children in future cases. For now, the focus remains on Aki-Bakari, Amena, and Amirr — three children whose faces are now familiar to thousands of people across Tennessee and beyond, who are hoping and praying for their safe return.
Anyone with information that could assist in the search is urged to contact the TBI or the Knoxville Police Department immediately.
