12-year-old Cobb County boy found safe after urgent search

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A 12-year-old Cobb County boy reported missing Monday has been found safe, police told Channel 2's Chris Jose.

Marietta police said Elijah Jones was last seen in the area of Allgood and Morning Side roads Sunday. They found him after a two-and-a-half-hour search.

Police spent Monday afternoon urgently searching for the missing boy, who police believe did not run away. They found Jones in Smyrna miles away from his home and want to know how he ended up there.

Jose was there Monday afternoon as family member Joyous Yancy and her fiance went door-to-door looking for Jones.

"He was going to the park with his friends and he never came home," Yancy said.

Yancy and the boy's brother Izayah Higgins told Jose their mother last saw Elijah on Saturday. Elizabeth Porter Park is near the family's home.

According to Marietta police, Jones' family reported him missing Monday. A spokesperson said someone who knows Jones told police he was safe and that he saw the news alert from Channel 2.

Police are investigating why the family waited until Monday to file a report and are questioning the parents. Source told Jose that the Division of Family and Child Services may be called to help.

Cox Media Group