Kershaw, SC (WLTX) - The father of a missing 2-year-old was spotted in North Carolina after police reported the Camden couple took the child.
The Department of Social Services reported the child missing Tuesday after obtaining an ex parte order to have the child removed from the custody of Jessica Louise Ray and William Eugene Ray, her biological parents.
The couple is believed to be driving a stolen tan 1996 Ford Aerostar van with stolen SC Tags LMU 173. The father is charged with stealing the van from a parking lot off Bramblewood Plantation road, and was last seen at a gas station in North Carolina Wednesday morning.
The child's uncle, Johnny Ray, was supposed to take custody of her while an investigation was completed after the Kershaw County Sheriff's Department called DSS to a scene at a motel on April 12, according to a report.
The uncle has been charged with unlawful neglect of a child.
On April 16, William reportedly convinced Johnny to take him and the child to the DSS office to complete paperwork so William could regain custody. After dropping William and the child at the office, the uncle Johnny left to get some food. When he returned, both William and the child were gone, according to a report.