Alexander was initially abducted by his non-custodial father, Ulysses H. Roberson, on November 9, 1985 from his home in San Francisco, California. His mother, Rosemary Judith "Judy" Olive, went to Roberson's South Lake Tahoe, California home in December 1985 and demanded to know her son's whereabouts. Roberson refused to divulge the information and assaulted Rosemary, breaking her jaw. He fled afterwards, but was arrested in Los Angeles, California for the assault on Rosemary. The child has never been located. Ulysses was the prime suspect in Alexander's disappearance since the onset of the investigation. Alexander has a birthmark on the outside of his left calf. He has a very small scar on the right corner of his mouth and scars around both of his ankles. Alexander is referred to as "Salaam Alexander Roberson" by his father.