STROUD, Okla. — Police say a 7-year-old Stroud boy who was taken by his non-custodial mother on Monday morning has been found safe in Arizona.
About 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, an Arizona state trooper stopped the mother, Sarah Hill, 41 miles east of the California border on Highway 10. It's unknown at this time where she was headed. The trooper's check on the license plates showed Hill was wanted for kidnapping, the Arizona Department of Safety tells 2 Works For You.
The 7-year-old boy, Austin Cornett, was picked up from school on Monday at approximately 7:59 a.m. by his non-custodial parent, Hill. School officials immediately contacted police when the boy didn't show up for class. A warrant was issued for Sarah Hill’s arrest for felony kidnapping on a $25,000 bond by Lincoln County.
On Tuesday, authorities in Cleveland County searched for hits for her license plate. A license plate reader picked her up near Amarillo, Texas, so authorities listed her car as a “hot plate” to alert local law enforcement whenever her plate was scanned.
When they were found, Austin was in the car along with a 12-year-old girl, of whom authorities say Hill is a legal custodial parent. Both children were taken into custody by children's services. Authorities say Austin will be returned to his family as soon as possible.
Hill was arrested, booked into the La Paz County jail in Parker and is being prepared to be extradited to Oklahoma.
Local, state and federal agencies were involved in the search for the boy.
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