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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boy found in basement now living with mother | Boy found in basement now living with mother |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A 12-year-old found in the basement of his father's block of flats after being missing for 11 days is in his mother's custody, police in Detroit have said. | A 12-year-old found in the basement of his father's block of flats after being missing for 11 days is in his mother's custody, police in Detroit have said. |
| Police say they are not allowing Charlie Bothuell to have contact with his father or stepmother. | Police say they are not allowing Charlie Bothuell to have contact with his father or stepmother. |
| Investigators have not ruled out abuse but the father, also Charles, denies he has ever harmed his son. | Investigators have not ruled out abuse but the father, also Charles, denies he has ever harmed his son. |
| Police officers found the boy, who had been feared dead, behind a clutter of boxes on Wednesday. | Police officers found the boy, who had been feared dead, behind a clutter of boxes on Wednesday. |
| On Friday, the Detroit Free Press reported, citing a court document not released publicly, that Charlie told investigators that his stepmother, Monique Dillard-Bothuell, instructed him to go to the basement and "not to come out, no matter what he hears" and did not bring him food. | |
| Meanwhile, in a Friday court hearing it was revealed the boy's body was marked with bruises that indicated he had been physically abused in the past, the Detroit News reported. | |
| Mr Bothuell's lawyer Mark Magidson told local media that he expected child abuse charges would be filed against his client. He has denied the allegations of abuse. | |
| 'Highly disingenuous' | |
| On Wednesday, Mr Bothuell was appealing to HLN viewers for help when presenter Nancy Grace told him Charlie had been found alive and well. | |
| The father appeared to be stunned and said, "What?" | The father appeared to be stunned and said, "What?" |
| He told the presenter his family, Detroit police and FBI had searched the multiple-flat building's basement several times. | He told the presenter his family, Detroit police and FBI had searched the multiple-flat building's basement several times. |
| Earlier in the day, the police said they feared the boy was dead. | Earlier in the day, the police said they feared the boy was dead. |
| "God, they brought dogs, everything... Everybody has searched," Charles Bothuell IV said. "Oh God, my son." | "God, they brought dogs, everything... Everybody has searched," Charles Bothuell IV said. "Oh God, my son." |
| Police also confirmed to local media they had searched the family's basement with a cadaver dog, adding investigators were not sure Charlie had been in the basement for the full 11 days. | Police also confirmed to local media they had searched the family's basement with a cadaver dog, adding investigators were not sure Charlie had been in the basement for the full 11 days. |
| The boy's stepmother was also arrested on Thursday for violating her probation on a misdemeanour gun charge. | The boy's stepmother was also arrested on Thursday for violating her probation on a misdemeanour gun charge. |
| Mr Magidson told reporters her arrest was "highly disingenuous" and said he had advised her not to talk to investigators unless he was present. | |
| As he left a court hearing for his wife on Friday, Mr Bothuell told reporters: "I have something to say, but I can't right now." | As he left a court hearing for his wife on Friday, Mr Bothuell told reporters: "I have something to say, but I can't right now." |
| Charlie was given medical attention at a nearby hospital after he was found, with Police Sgt Mike Woody telling US media the boy was "doing fine". | Charlie was given medical attention at a nearby hospital after he was found, with Police Sgt Mike Woody telling US media the boy was "doing fine". |
| "I've never seen anything quite like this," Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters on Wednesday. "But the outcome - I couldn't be happier." | "I've never seen anything quite like this," Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters on Wednesday. "But the outcome - I couldn't be happier." |