Staff report
The Rowan County Department of Social Services has confirmed that a 10-month-old boy reported missing in early March has been located and placed in a foster home.
DSS Director Sandra Wilkes said when the boy, William Perry, went missing, he had been in the legal custody of Social Services but in the home of his mother on a trial basis.
The mother disappeared with the boy on Feb. 26 ó in violation of her arrangement with DSS.
The infant and his mother were found living in Chester, S.C.
DSS Foster Care Supervisor Micah Melton picked up the child and brought him back to Rowan County last week, and he was placed in a new foster care home.
“The child was OK,” Wilkes said. “That’s the main thing.”
DSS learned that the boy’s mother was using her electronic benefits (food stamp) card to purchase food at grocery stores in Chester.
Salisbury Police Department confirmed a street address, and Chester County DSS picked up the child from that location and kept him in its office until Melton arrived.
The child’s mother remained in Chester County.
Wilkes thanked Salisbury Police, Crime Stoppers, the Salisbury Post, Chester County DSS, the N.C. Center for Missing Children and local television stations for their help.