Troubled country singer Mindy McCready fled Cape Coral, Florida with her 5-year-old son Zander on Tuesday and remains in hiding at an undisclosed location.
McCready unlawfully removed the boy from her father’s home earlier this week. A Department of Children and Families employee became suspicious when the boy was reported missing from school for several days and decided to made a home visit.
The grandfather and step-grandmother were questioned about the child’s whereabouts and were less than forthcoming with the caseworker, who subsequently called police to report Zander missing.
Mindy’s mother is the custodial guardian of the boy. It is unclear if she was aware that her daughter had fled with the child.
A Florida judge granted an emergency pickup order and ruled that McCready has until 5:00 p.m. Thursday to voluntarily return the child or risk an arrest warrant.
Lt. Tony Sizemore made contact with McCready on Wednesday via a video chat service. He told reporters, “She is currently outside of the terms of her family court stipulation. She knows that she is supposed to bring her son back to Lee County by 5 p.m. Thursday. The million dollar question is whether she will comply.”
The singer has been hospitalized a number of times for suicide attempts and also spent several stints in rehab for substance addiction. Last year she appeared on season three of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
McCready posted a message on Facebook: “FB Friends I have been fighting the Florida court system to protect my son, and bring him home. There is NO AMBER ALERT and my son is not missing! Detectives from the Cape Coral Police department established that this afternoon via Skype. Please do not worry or support anything they continue to lie about! Thanks Always….Mindy.”
View a photo of the young boy below:
Photo: WENN