Search For Child Taken By Non-Custodial Father Ends Peacefully

RIVER ROUGE (WWJ) - State Police have ended the search for a 2-year-old boy who was taken by his non-custodial father in River Rouge. Police releasing a statement Tuesday night that the child has been found safe.

Police did not give any information regarding the father or the circumstances around the return of the child.

Earlier: Police say Denver Alexander Statton was taken from a home on Pine Street, near Jefferson Avenue and Coolidge, around 7 a.m. Monday by his father, Steve Miracle.

According to police, Miracle was visiting his son and spent the night at the home. In the morning, Miracle allegedly took the boy without permission and left in a car he stole, a 2001 silver Ford Taurus with Michigan license plate DND 5072.

Joseph Miracle, the child's great-uncle, said the family was trying to give Miracle a chance to get to know his son. Everything appeared to be going fine Sunday night but when they woke up Monday morning, Denver was gone.

"The thing is, a dad shouldn't be kept away from his kids. We thought he was turning over a new leaf," he said. "I thought everything was going good, you know, letting him see him here and there so (Denver) could get to know his dad and then boom, he does this. ... I think it was all a game to him, like, he improved just enough to get around him and then he got him."

Denver is described as 3-feet tall and 47 lbs. with blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a tan Carhart jacket.

Police say Miracle could be heading to the Jackson area or down to Ohio.

Anyone who sees the pair or has any information about their whereabouts should call 911 or contact police at 313-842-8700.

The case is considered an endangered missing person. State police say it does not qualify for an Amber Alert because the father was invited inside the home and there was no threat of violence, so it's not an abduction, and they can't say if the child is in any danger.