5 Missing Texas Boys Found, in Another State

Mom, boyfriend arrested in Baton Rouge, La.
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 19, 2022 9:20 AM CDT
Mom Arrested After 5 Missing Texas Boys Found in La.
Zaikiya Duncan, left, and Jova Terrell.   (Facebook/Harris County Constable Precinct 5)

Five siblings who went missing from the Cypress, Texas, area early Tuesday have been found, albeit in another state. Harris County Constable Ted Heap says that the boys, ranging in age from 7 to 14, were located safe in Baton Rouge, La., and their mother and her boyfriend have been arrested, reports WAFB. According to Harris County deputies, the saga began Monday when a set of 16-year-old twins escaped from their Texas home and had someone alert authorities, claiming they'd been handcuffed inside their residence, per WBRZ. Cops noted that the malnourished, bruised teens couldn't even say which house was theirs, as they alleged they hadn't been outside in some time.

The twins were reported to have been taken to a nearby hospital and put under CPS' purview. Authorities were finally able to find their home, where they say the twins' mother, 40-year-old Zaikiya Duncan, and five of her other children were nowhere to be found. An Amber Alert for the missing kids was issued in the area around Houston, and a silver Mitsubishi was stopped late Tuesday afternoon in the vicinity of Louisiana State University.

Deputies say inside the vehicle was Duncan, her 27-year-old boyfriend Jova Terrell, and one of the boys. The other four children were tracked down safe at the home of Duncan's aunt, say deputies, per WBRZ. Duncan, who was arrested for child cruelty in 2012, and Terrell were arrested and set to be extradited back to Harris County, where they face felony charges of first-degree injury to a child. Other charges may also be filed. (More missing child stories.)

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