A 12-year-old Oklahoma boy whose disappearance prompted a large search has been discovered secure simply days after his mom and stepfather had been arrested on suspicion of kid abuse, authorities stated.
“After days of looking out, after hope and prayer, we will say that the result that we had been all hoping for has come true,” Hunter McKee, spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, stated at a information convention on Sunday afternoon.
McKee stated the boy was discovered on Sunday in Caddo County, Oklahoma, close to the city of Cement.
The reserving photographs for George Cole and Kimberly Cole.
Cado County Sheriff’s Workplace
Investigators didn’t touch upon the circumstances of how the kid ended up within the space the place he was discovered.
The kid was given a medical examination, however authorities stated he is in “fairly fine condition” and was in “good spirits” when he was positioned.
McKee stated a whole bunch of individuals volunteered to assist seek for the boy, and that he was positioned round midday native time by members of the United Cajun Navy, a neighborhood volunteer search-and-rescue group.
The kid was final seen Jan. 2 in Chickasha, which is about 24 miles from the place he was discovered, in line with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The Chickasha Police Division had issued an endangered lacking advisory for the boy.
The kid’s mom, Kimberly Cole, and his stepfather, George Cole, had been taken into custody on Wednesday on little one abuse, little one sexual abuse and conspiracy complaints, in line with OSBI.
“In the course of the dialog with them, it was discovered that there was obvious hurt performed to this little one whereas he was residing with these two dad and mom,” McKee stated at a information convention on Thursday to announce the arrests.
McKee stated police additionally executed search warrants earlier than the couple was arrested.
McKee stated the kid’s mom and stepfather stay in custody on the Caddo County Jail. He stated the native district legal professional plans to maneuver ahead with the fees in opposition to the dad and mom.
The boy was positioned within the custody of the Oklahoma Division of Human Providers.
“We will work carefully with DHS to be sure that [the boy] is put right into a secure residence, which he deserves,” McKee stated.
ABC Information’ Matthew Fuhrman, Vanessa Navarrete and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
