A missing 7-month-old boy and his 28-year-old mother have been found safe after police earlier asked the public for help locating them.
The Olathe Police Department said Thursday that Atreus Viehouser, a 7-month-old child, and his mother, Caprice Viehouser, had been located and were safe. The update came after authorities issued a public alert describing the child as missing and endangered.
Police had previously said they were concerned about the baby’s welfare after receiving information about Caprice Viehouser’s ability to care for him.
Police Had Asked Public For Help
Before the pair were found, police asked residents to report any information that could help locate Atreus and Caprice Viehouser.
According to authorities, the baby and his mother were last seen in Olathe, Kansas, on May 28 near the 2100 block of East Arrowhead Drive. Police said the last known telephone contact with Caprice was made on June 4.
Investigators believed Caprice may have been in the St. Louis area around that time. However, police said she did not have a vehicle, which added concern about where she and the baby may have been staying or travelling.
Caprice also had ties to both the Johnson County and St. Louis areas, according to police.
Concerns Raised About Child’s Welfare
Authorities said the case was treated seriously because they had been notified about Caprice Viehouser’s reported lack of ability to care for the baby.
Missing child cases involving infants can create urgent concern for law enforcement because young children depend entirely on adults for food, shelter, medical care and safety.
Police did not release further details about the circumstances that led to the welfare concern. Officials also did not immediately say where Atreus and Caprice were found or who located them.
The most important update, according to police, was that both were safe.
Description Released During Search
During the search, police released identifying information about the missing child and his mother.
Atreus Viehouser was described as 18 inches long and weighing about 20 pounds. Police said he had brown hair and blue eyes.
Caprice Viehouser was described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing just over 100 pounds. She also had brown hair and blue eyes.
The descriptions were shared as part of the effort to help members of the public recognize them and contact authorities if they had seen either person.
Public Assistance Was Requested
Police had urged anyone with information about Atreus or Caprice Viehouser to call 911 or the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
Public tips often play an important role in missing person investigations, especially when the person may have travelled outside the immediate area.
In this case, authorities had identified possible connections to multiple areas, including Johnson County and the St. Louis region.
The search for 7-month-old Atreus Viehouser and his mother, Caprice Viehouser, ended with a safe outcome after police said both were found Thursday. Authorities had earlier asked the public for help due to concerns about the child’s welfare and the pair’s unknown whereabouts.
Police have not released additional details about where they were found, but confirmed the baby and his mother are safe.