Gabriel Scott Johnson
Tempe, Arizona/San Antonio, Texas
Gabriel was abducted from Tempe, Arizona, on December 18, 2009, by his mother, Elizabeth Johnson, who drove him to San Antonio, Texas. After arriving on December 22 and staying at local motels, Gabriel was last seen with Elizabeth on December 27. That same day, she departed San Antonio by bus—leaving behind her grandfather’s car—and failed to appear at a scheduled custody hearing in Arizona, prompting a custodial interference warrant.
Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, on December 30, though Gabriel was not in her custody. Around the time of his disappearance, Gabriel’s father, Logan Scott McQueary, received alarming text messages from Elizabeth falsely claiming that Gabriel had been killed. Elizabeth later contended that she had arranged a closed adoption for Gabriel with a couple she met in a San Antonio park, though the details she provided were vague.
The couple, known as Tammi Peters Smith and Jack Smith, had spent several weeks with Gabriel and became persons of interest when McQueary accused them of pressuring him to relinquish his parental rights. In February 2010, Tammi was arrested on charges including forgery and custodial interference and was eventually convicted in May 2012.
Private investigator Ken Gamble later theorized that Gabriel might still be alive, having been given away or sold through an underground adoption network in San Antonio. Although Elizabeth reportedly confessed to Gabriel’s murder during a jailhouse interview, inconsistencies in her statements and concerns regarding her mental health have complicated the legal proceedings. In October 2012, Elizabeth was convicted of custodial interference and unlawful imprisonment and sentenced to just over five years in prison, receiving credit for time already served; she was released in July 2014.
Gabriel’s whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities continue to investigate his disappearance as a kidnapping and possible homicide.
NCIC# M838476416
NamUs #MP8354
NCMEC# 1137894
Agency Case# 09213039
Tempe Police Department (Arizona)
1-480-350-8311
San Antonio Police Department (Texas)
1-210-207-7660