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Missing 7-year-old boy from Florida found safe in California

Posted at 11:24 AM, Jun 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-28 10:11:54-04

A Florida Missing Child Alert has been canceled for 7-year-old Donovan Carruthers from Davenport, Fla., after he was safely located in California.

According to Haines City police detectives, the search for Donovan ended when Joseff Rhodes noticed the coverage on social media and called them.

“The good news and the bottom line here is Donovan is safe. The system has worked, although somewhat delayed, has worked," Haines City Chief of Police Gary Hester said.

Investigators feared for Donovan’s safety after his mother was murdered in Orange County 10 days ago. Authorities were worried Donovan was with Rhodes, a convicted felon, who may have lived in Davenport.

“They were concerned that he was with Mr. Rhodes, who has an extensive criminal record, and it was also reported that Mr. Rhodes in the past was the boyfriend and/or, as it was reported to DCF, the pimp for Mrs. Carruthers,” Hester said.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, they have not arrested anyone in the murder. They have interviewed Rhodes and several other people, but they will not go into any other details about the investigation.

Hester said several agencies are trying to determine Rhodes relationship to the child.

“There’s more about this case than we do know. It’s been reported to us that Mr. Rhodes is not the biological father of Donovan,” Hester said.

According to the Rialto Police Department in California, Donovan is in DCF custody.

“I’m sure the department of children and families both here and in CA will work to try to put the child in the best/safest environment they can place him in,” Hester said.

A representative with the Rialto Police Department told WFTS-TV they are not investigating Rhodes.