It also sounds like "The Ransom of Red Chief".
I'm so sorry this happened to this child and family. My prayers go out to them.
When my son was 5, he was the spitting image of Red Chief. He hated to hold my hand in the mall and elsewhere, constantly wanting to wander off by himself. I'm ashamed to report I have often said to myself, "If he gets kidnapped, they'll have him back in my arms in five minutes - tops!"