A 23‑year‑old Lebanon County man remains missing nearly three months after four individuals — at least one of whom is now in custody — kidnapped him in Reading, investigators revealed this week in court records.
Michael Petrino Jr. was reported missing to Western Lebanon police on March 27 by his father, who said he last saw his son on March 21.
Reading police took over the investigation after determining Petrino disappeared in the city. A review of cellphone records and data from license‑plate readers showed he had a rented Jeep Compass on March 25 when he vanished during the early-morning hours, investigators wrote.
The Reading Police Department posted a missing‑adult alert for Petrino on its Facebook page on April 3. His case was added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System on May 1.
On Tuesday, Reading police arrested Amir Frazier, 16, of Muhlenberg Township and charged him as an adult with kidnapping, false imprisonment and simple assault.
He was committed to the Berks County Youth Center in lieu of $500,000 bail following arraignment Tuesday night before District Judge Gail M. Greth in Reading Central Court.
Criminal Investigator Katelyn Super wrote in an affidavit that investigators obtained search warrants and court orders, including warrants allowing police to seize and forensically download several cellphones.
According to the affidavit:
On one of the phones — belonging to an individual identified as “Witness 1” — investigators recovered a deleted text thread in which the assailants appeared to discuss the time and location for the kidnapping with Witness 1.
Super and Criminal Investigator Joshua Sheller interviewed Witness 1 and another person identified as Witness 2 separately.
Both witnesses said they drove Petrino to the area of North Second and Oley streets. Petrino was in the front-passenger seat, while Frazier sat in the back with Witness 2.
It was unclear why Petrino was not driving the Jeep. What was clear, investigators wrote, is that everyone except Petrino knew what was about to happen.
Michael Patrino Jr. was kidnapped March 25 , 2026 in Reading and remains missing nearly three months later, according to city police.
The witnesses said they pulled the Jeep into an alley and waited for three other individuals — described as Frazier’s co‑defendants — to arrive in a separate vehicle. The co‑defendants parked trunk‑to‑trunk with the Jeep.
The three got out of their vehicle, opened the Jeep’s passenger‑side door and yelled for Petrino to get out. Petrino tried to flee to the rear of the Jeep to retrieve a firearm, but the assailants forcibly removed him from the vehicle and began striking him with their guns.
Petrino fell to the ground, where the attackers punched and kicked him before forcing him into their car and driving away.
Both witnesses confirmed the deleted text thread was part of the planning for the kidnapping.
The affidavit did not reveal a motive for the abduction, nor did it make clear whether charges have been filed against all of the co‑defendants.
Attempts to obtain additional information from police on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Petrino is described as Black, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 175 pounds. He was last wearing a gray and white Nike hoodie, black sweatpants, white socks, black slides and had a black drawstring backpack.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts of Petrino should call Reading police at 610-655-6116.
Tips also can be made via Crime Alert Berks County’s anonymous tip line, 877-373-9913. Tips can be sent via text, using the keyword “alert berks,” to 847411. Crime Alert will pay a cash reward for information that helps locate him or leads to arrests of his kidnappers.