The disappearance of two-year-old Matteo Van Dam and his mother, Sophia, is a deeply troubling case that began in South Carolina. The pair were last seen in June 2023. Prior to their disappearance, Sophia had expressed fear and had moved with Matteo from her boyfriend's home in Sumter to her mother's house in Beaufort. Sophia's mother last saw her daughter and grandson early in the morning on June 22, 2023.
When she returned from work later that afternoon, she found the house locked, and all of Sophia and Matteo's belongings were gone. This was the start of a long and painful period of uncertainty for their family.
Communication following their disappearance was strange and alarming. Sophia's mother received text messages from Sophia's phone on June 24, 2023, stating she was moving back to Sumter. The content of the messages was described as nonsensical, leading her family to worry about her mental state. After these texts, no one heard from Sophia or Matteo again. Adding to the mystery, Sophia's car and Matteo's car seat were found at her boyfriend's residence in Sumter. The family officially reported them missing to the Sumter police on June 28, 2023.
The investigation into the disappearance of Matteo and his mother has spanned multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Sumter Police Department, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the FBI. In June 2025, a significant development occurred when Sophia's boyfriend, Jonas Jerry Washington Jr., was arrested in Georgia. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Sophia Van Dam and the kidnapping of Matteo. Investigators stated they found a substantial amount of Sophia's blood in the home she shared with Washington, leading them to believe she could not have survived. While foul play is strongly suspected in both cases, Washington has not been charged with Matteo's murder due to a lack of evidence. To date, neither Sophia nor little Matteo have been found. The case remains an active and ongoing investigation, leaving a family searching for answers and the community hoping for a resolution.Last Seen: Jun 22, 2023
