Three children from Utah who had been missing for two years have been found living with members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the Fredonia Police Department.
According to the authorities, the police reported that the children went missing in late October 2022. At that time, their last known whereabouts were in Beaver County, Utah.
In late August 2024, the police department in the small town of Fredonia, Arizona, received a tip about three children who had been reported missing two years ago.
The Fredonia Police released a press statement on Thursday, stating that they suspected the father of orchestrating the disappearance and subsequent hiding of the children, with assistance from family members of the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saint (FLDS) Church.
In a collaborative effort between Arizona and Utah agencies, a comprehensive plan was devised to locate and bring back the children. On September 1, 2024, the authorities successfully located and safely returned the three children to their mother.
According to the release, the police also arrested the children’s grandmother and aunt, who were found to be supervising the children.
The Kanab City Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Kane County Sheriff’s Office, Kane County SWAT, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigation, and volunteers from the children’s family worked together to plan and locate the missing children.
The Fredonia Police Department expresses gratitude to everyone who assisted in the matter, as stated in their release. They further mention that as of now, the children are safe with their mother while the investigation proceeds.