Authorities are searching for a missing 12-year-old boy in Chickasha, Oklahoma, after his parents were arrested on child abuse charges.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced on Thursday, January 8, that Ryan “RJ” Davis was last seen around 11 p.m. on Friday, January 2, at Fourth Street and East Grand Avenue near the Quality Inn, according to KOCO. After he was reported missing, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Advisory on Tuesday, January 6.
The following day, OSBI officials announced that they had joined the investigation amid the search for Davis.
On Wednesday, January 7, Davis’ parents, George Cole and Kimberly Cole, were arrested and booked into the Caddo County Jail. Both George and Kimberly were charged with child abuse and child sexual abuse, according to OSBI officials.
It is not currently clear if either George or Kimberly have entered pleas or obtained legal representation following in the wake of their arrests.
OSBI officials did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the arrests.
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Kimberly is Davis’ biological mother, according to KOCO. Meanwhile, George is the 12-year-old’s stepfather. It’s not currently clear if Davis’ biological father is in the picture.
“It was learned that there was apparent harm done to this child while he was living with these two parents,” OSBI official Hunter McKee said in a statement, per KOCO.
OSBI officials and the Chickasha Police Department held a press conference about the matter on January 8, where they explained that they believe Davis is still alive. Authorities added that they are following numerous leads amid the investigation.
Meanwhile, Chickasha police chief Goebel Music said that Davis will not be returned to his parents’ custody if and when he is found.
“Here’s what I need from everybody listening. This child will not be going back to that home,” Music said. “All we want to do is lay eyes on this child, give him the medical care that he needs, and assure him physically and emotionally, he will not be returning back to that environment.”
A volunteer told News 9 that the search for Davis is spanning across the two counties of Grady and Caddo.
Several members of the community have teamed up to look for Davis. Chickasha residents Sara Ellis and Loretta Sinor opened up about their decision to help with the search while speaking to News 9.
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“I can’t imagine it being our kid, so that’s why we’re here,” Ellis said.
Ellis and Sinor shared that they started their own search party to look for Davis on the night of January 7.
“So, we started down by the lake. Our plan is just to kind of cover the lake as much as we can. So, we plan to drive a little bit and then get out and walk,” Ellis said. “There’s a wooded area over there that we’re kind of wanting to look through and make sure it’s thoroughly searched.”
Authorities are asking that anyone with information about Davis’ location call 911 or contact the OSBI tip line at [email protected] or 1-800-522-8017. People with information are also encouraged to call the Chickasha Police Department at 405-222-6050.
