TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have canceled the Missing Child Alert for 17-year-old Alvarez Taylor. According to an update released by authorities, Taylor has been located and is safe.
The alert was originally triggered on February 24, 2026, after the teen was last seen in the 6800 block of North 47th Street in Tampa. His disappearance sparked a widespread search, with deputies highlighting his distinct pumpkin-graphic shirt and green duffel bag to help the public identify him.
Concerns were heightened at the time by a “do not approach” warning issued by law enforcement, though officials have not provided specific details regarding the circumstances of his recovery.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Authorities in Tampa have issued a Florida Missing Child Alert for 17-year-old Alvarez Taylor, who disappeared from a neighborhood in the northern part of the city. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that Taylor was last spotted in the 6800 block of North 47th Street.
Taylor is described as a white male, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. When he was last seen, he was wearing an orange t-shirt with a pumpkin face graphic, dark blue pants, and black-and-white shoes. Investigators believe he may also be carrying a green duffel bag.
READ: Without A Trace: Florida College Student, Tiffany Louise Sessions, Still Missing 36 Years Later
Law enforcement officials have issued a specific warning to the public regarding this case: if you see Taylor, do not attempt to approach or engage him. Instead, witnesses are urged to keep a safe distance and contact the authorities immediately.
Anyone who has seen Taylor or has information that could lead to his current location is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200 or dial 911 right away.
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