A 12-year-old Oklahoma boy who vanished from a Chickasha hotel on January 2 has been found safe.
According to News 9, search volunteers with the nonprofit grassroots United Cajun Navy group found the boy in Caddo County on Sunday.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson, Hunter McKee, said that the boy had been initially frightened, but checked out medically at a local hospital.
Police said the child had outdoor survival and camping skills, which helped him sustain himself after finding food and water. Search volunteers said the boy was apologetic when found, stating that he didn’t want to cause issues for others.
The search team reassured him that he was safe.
“He was apologetic, terrified, super scared like he was gonna be in trouble. We reassured him this wasn’t his fault, he’s safe, and gave him a big hug,” a United Cajun Navy group volunteer said, KOCO News reports.
“We had to get a tissue, I had to wipe his tears.”
McKee said it’s currently unclear how the 12-year-old got to Caddo County, near Cement, after leaving the Quality Inn, in Chickasha, on foot.
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother, Kimberly Cole, and stepfather, George Cole, are behind bars facing multiple charges related to physical and sexual abuse, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
One of the charges against Kimberly Cole includes “crime against nature,” although details surrounding the charge are not yet available.
“When Chickasha police department requested us to look into this case, not only was it important for us to locate this child safely, but we also needed to look into the entire aspect of this case and find out why is the child missing in the beginning for multiple days,” Mckee stated Tuesday.
“This is an extremely sad and horrific case for everyone involved. We’re talking about a 12-year-old boy who didn’t get to live the life of a normal 12-year-old child.”
McKee said during a news conference Sunday that boy would not be returning home.
“We’re going to find the best home for him, moving forward, for this child, however that’s going to look…we are going to do what we can to ensure that’s he put in the right home.”
George and Kimberly Cole remain behinds bars in Caddo County.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photos: Kimberly and George Cole/Caddo County Police]