Seventeen-year-old Joshua Amir Horton was reported missing from Dorchester, Massachusetts, after he was last seen on February 3, 2026. Public missing-child notices identify him as a male teenager, age 17, and list his case with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children under case number 2079517 and NCIC number M788837451. The available online alerts describe Joshua as Black, with black hair and brown eyes, and place the beginning of the search in Dorchester, a Boston neighborhood
where his absence would have been deeply felt by the people who know him and were expecting him to be safe.
As the case became public, the information released remained limited and focused on helping people recognize Joshua and report any possible sighting. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children stated that Joshua may still be in the local area, but also noted that he may travel to Malden or Lynn, Massachusetts. That detail suggests investigators and advocates wanted the public to pay attention not only in Dorchester and Boston, but also in nearby communities where Joshua might have connections, pass through, or be seen by someone who does not yet realize the importance of what they observed.
The public notices do not provide a detailed account of what happened before Joshua disappeared, what he may have been wearing, who last saw him, or whether there were specific circumstances that raised immediate concern. In cases like this, the absence of those details can make the public appeal feel painfully incomplete, because the search depends on small pieces of information that may only make sense once they are shared. The alerts emphasize that even information that seems minor could matter, and they ask anyone with knowledge of Joshua’s whereabouts or any possible sighting to contact authorities.
The agencies listed for information in Joshua’s case are the Boston Police Department and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The NCMEC poster directs people to call 911, contact the Boston Police Department at 617-343-4500, or reach NCMEC’s 24-hour call center at 1-800-843-5678. A separate missing-child alert also lists the Boston Police Department and NCMEC as contact points, reinforcing that tips should go directly to law enforcement or the national missing-children clearinghouse rather than circulating only through social media or private discussion.
Joshua Horton’s case, as reflected in available online sources, begins with a 17-year-old boy last seen in Dorchester on February 3, 2026, and continues through public appeals asking people in Dorchester, Malden, Lynn, and the broader Massachusetts area to remain alert. The known details are limited: his full name is Joshua Amir Horton, he is a Black male teenager with black hair and brown eyes, his case is listed by NCMEC, and authorities have asked the public to report information that could help locate him. At its heart, the case is the story of a young person whose whereabouts became unknown, a family and community left needing answers, and a search that depends on someone coming forward with the detail that helps bring clarity.Last Seen: Feb 3, 2026
