After nearly two years of searching, three children who disappeared in Utah have been found safe near the Utah-Arizona border, police confirmed.
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The kids, whose names haven’t been shared, went missing back in October 2022. It wasn’t until late August 2024 that police in Fredonia, Arizona, got a tip that the children might be in the small town of about 1,300 people, just a short drive from the border.
Authorities believe the children’s father had a big hand in their disappearance and hiding, possibly with help from family members connected to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Acting on this information, Fredonia Police and other local officers quickly stepped in and safely reunited the kids with their mother.
When police found the children, their aunt and grandmother were with them. The two women, who seemed to be in charge of looking after the kids, were arrested. The authorities haven’t shared their names or too many details, saying they want to protect the children as the investigation continues.
“This operation happened fast,” Officer Andrew Smith from Fredonia Police told Fox13. “In a small town like this, word spreads quickly when there’s unusual activity, but we acted swiftly and got the job done.”
Smith added, “It feels great knowing the kids are safe and back with their mom where they belong. This is why we do what we do.”
Right now, the kids are staying with their mom while police keep looking into what happened.
