A 12-year-old Oklahoma boy whose disappearance prompted an enormous search has been discovered protected simply days after his mom and stepfather have been arrested on suspicion of kid abuse, authorities mentioned.
“After days of looking, after hope and prayer, we will say that the end result that we have been all hoping for has come true,” Hunter McKee, spokesperson for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, mentioned at a information convention on Sunday afternoon.
McKee mentioned the boy was discovered on Sunday in Caddo County, Oklahoma, close to the city of Cement.
The reserving pictures 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 mentioned he is in “fairly good condition” and was in “good spirits” when he was positioned.
McKee mentioned lots of 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 accordance 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, have been taken into custody on Wednesday on baby abuse, baby sexual abuse and conspiracy complaints, in accordance with OSBI.
“Throughout the dialog with them, it was realized that there was obvious hurt accomplished to this baby whereas he was dwelling with these two mother and father,” McKee mentioned at a information convention on Thursday to announce the arrests.Â
McKee mentioned police additionally executed search warrants earlier than the couple was arrested.
 McKee mentioned the kid’s mom and stepfather stay in custody on the Caddo County Jail. He mentioned the native district lawyer plans to maneuver ahead with the costs in opposition to the mother and father.
The boy was positioned within the custody of the Oklahoma Division of Human Companies.
“We will work carefully with DHS to make it possible for [the boy] is put right into a protected residence, which he deserves,” McKee mentioned.
ABC Information’ Matthew Fuhrman, Vanessa Navarrete and Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
