A 9-year-old Texas boy who had been missing more than a year was found Saturday morning in Sanford with his father, who took the child out-of-state in 2017 without telling the boy’s mother, according to Sanford police.
Authorities said Joshua Graham was taken from Texas by his father and noncustodial parent, 52-year-old Kenneth Graham, at the end of 2017. Graham did not tell the boy’s mother, who was granted sole custody of Joshua in Feb. 2018, that he was leaving the state with their child, Sanford police said in a news release.
Authorities located Graham and the boy near Seminole Boulevard and San Juan Avenue about 6:30 a.m. during an investigation of a suspicious vehicle, the agency said. Earlier this week, Joshua was reported “abducted by non-custodial parent” by law enforcement in Houston, the release states.
The boy was placed in Child Protective Services until he can rejoin his mother, police said.
“Regardless of the circumstances, the feelings of loss and devastation are indescribable when any child is taken from a parent,” Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said in the release. “The officers and investigators involved in this case are delighted to have played a significant role in reuniting this mother with her child after two long years.”
Police said criminal charges may be forthcoming by Texas officials.
Tess Sheets can be reached at tsheets@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5020. Twitter: @sheets_tess
