The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was reported missing earlier this week and her boyfriend staged the boy's disappearance, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Jacob Huggins was reported missing around 1 a.m. September 8 by his grandparents, who have full custody of him. His mother, Jamie Sanchez, lost all rights, including visitation, after she was incarcerated, but is currently on release through adult probation for an unrelated criminal charge, said MCSO.
The boy was found by deputies unharmed Wednesday.
Deputies say Sanchez and her boyfriend, Antonio Nuno, illegally lured the boy from his grandparents Wittmann home to her home in Wickenburg. The next day, she then allegedly put the boy in the trunk of her truck and hid him in a shack at a golf course and told him that the police were looking for him.
At some point, the mother's boyfriend took the boy to one of Sanchez's friend's homes where he was eventually found by deputies and reunited with his grandparents, according to MCSO.
The couple was arrested and booked into jail on felony charges of child abuse and custodial interference.
Sanchez denied any involvement and asked for an attorney. Her boyfriend was the one, according to MCSO, who told deputies where they could find Jacob.
