A couple from Oklahoma found themselves in police custody on Wednesday, accused of abusing a 12-year-old boy who has been missing since last week. This troubling development has drawn significant attention to the case.

According to Hunter McKee, the public information officer for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the young boy, Ryan Davis, endured mistreatment while living with his mother, Kimberly Cole, and her husband, George Cole. As reported by KOCO, Davis was last spotted on January 2 at the Quality Inn in Chickasha. Subsequently, an Endangered Missing Advisory was issued four days later in hopes of locating him.

Despite the grim circumstances, KOCO reports that authorities remain optimistic about Davis’s safety, believing he is still alive.

Before her arrest on Wednesday, Kimberly Cole expressed gratitude to those aiding in the search for her son. “I want to thank everybody that has helped and anybody that wants to continue to help. It’s needed and wanted. We just want our son back home. We want him back,” she told the news outlet.

Both George and Kimberly Cole are now facing charges of child abuse and child sexual abuse. Officials have confirmed there was “apparent harm done” to Davis, though specifics about the alleged abuses remain undisclosed. According to McKee, it’s unclear if the suspected abuse is directly linked to Davis’s disappearance, as noted by KOKH.

Ryan Davis is described as 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time he was last seen, he was wearing a red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans, and brown steel-toe boots.

Anyone with information regarding Davis’ whereabouts should call the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-522-8017 or the Chickasha Police Department at 405-222-6050.

[Feature Photo: Facebook; Caddo County Jail]