Mindy McCready and Son Found Hiding in Arkansas Closet
by Richard Sharp
Country singer Mindy McCready's dramatic run from Florida authorities with her 5-year-old son Zander is officially over. Authorities found McCready and her son, who had been declared a missing person by the State of Florida, hiding in the closet of her boyfriend's lake home in rural Heber Springs, Arkansas.
According to a Reuters story, McCready did not resist authorities, and the child is now reportedly in the custody of the Arkansas Division of Child and Family Services while he awaits transportation back to Florida.
"We're working with Arkansas officials to bring him (Zander) back as soon as possible," said Terri Durdaller of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
After McCready had fled Florida with the child, alleging abuse at the hands of his legal custodian (and McCready's mother) Gayle Inge, and refused to bring him back, the judge in the custody case had issued an emergency "pickup order," which meant authorities were authorized to pick up the child and bring him back to Florida.
McCready had told the AP "I'm a mom first. No matter what happens, I'm going to protect my kid. If I have to go to jail, so be it."
No charges have been filed against McCready.