PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. — A missing 12-year-old from Pinal County has been safely found as of Saturday morning, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said. The boy's father, who was recently arrested, was a corrections officer.
Kelly "KJ" Conklin, 12, had been missing since Dec. 20 after he reportedly ran away with another member of his household. PCSO said the other child was later located and is safe.
But now the missing boy's parents, Kelly and Melissa Conklin, have been arrested by PCSO after detectives interviewed other children living in the home.
The older Kelly Conklin had been an officer with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR), but resigned after his arrest, a representative with the department said.
PCSO said the arrests of the parents are not directly related to the 12-year-old's disappearance.
The parents had been taken into custody for allegations involving child abuse, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
KJ Conklin was previously seen at a Walmart in Queen Creek on Dec. 20, around 8 p.m., PCSO said. He was wearing a black "GAP" hoodie with gray letters and sweats with multi-colored triangles.
On Saturday, the PCSO announced that KJ had been found safe. Authorities didn't give further details on his condition.
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