11 Year Old Joshua Avara Returned Home Safely
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: April 14, 2009
An 11-year-old boy who has been missing for nearly 3 weeks has now been returned home safely.
We first told you Joshua Avara's story last week. Tonight -- he's home safe after his mother took him across state lines against court orders, his father left here in Texas to worry about his son's whereabouts.
Lubbock police say Joshua was located Saturday morning in Flint, Michigan after police there pulled over the car he was in. His father, John Avara, tells us his son had been living in the car for the past 21 days. Avara reported his son missing after his mother didn't return him.
His father tells us he's overjoyed to have Joshua home safe with him in Odessa. However -- the 11-year-old is still in the middle of a complicated custody battle between his parents, and now his mother could be facing criminal charges.
According to local family law attorneys, unfortunately, her behavior isn't too uncommon when it comes to custody disputes.
Jan Fouts, The Fouts Law Firm: "Parents sometimes do foolish things. They don't consider the consequences when they fail to comply with what they're ordered to do."
The mother was initally detained, but charges against her are currently under review with Lubbock District Attorneys. We'll of course keep you updated on what those charges become.
