The stepmother of a 5-year-old Kansas boy missing since Saturday, Feb. 17, has been arrested in Wichita, Kansas, on child endangerment charges, police said.
“The charges are related to new information gathered during this investigation,” Deputy Police Chief Gavin Seiler told reporters.
“Officers and investigators have been working on this case non-stop,” he added.
Seiler did not give details about the alleged child endangerment incidents but said it related to Lucas and a 1-year-old child. He hinted that more charged could be added.
Glass reported that Lucas was missing on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. When police arrived, stepmother said she last saw the child at 3:00 p.m. in his bedroom before she took a shower and fell asleep.
The great-aunt of Lucas Hernandez said that she noticed signs of abuse before the boy disappeared.
Rasmussen said that she’s worked with at-risk youth before so is familiar with potential signs of abuse.
She reported the marks to Child Protective Services, and made another report in November when Lucas and his father, Johnathan Hernandez, visited her.
She emphasized that she did not believe it was the father abusing his son but rather that the abuse was from Lucas’ stepmother.
The father was out of town for work when Lucas disappeared, she said.
Authorities wouldn’t confirm they received reports of abuse.
The search for Lucas continues and police urge anyone with information to contact the tip hotline.
Lucas was born Dec. 12, 2012, has brown eyes and hair, is around 4 feet in height, and weighs about 60 pounds. The boy was last seen wearing a gray shirt with a bear on it, black sweatpants, and white socks.
“We hope we are going to be able to find Lucas and that he is alive and well,” Seiler said.
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