Missing 2-Week-Old Infant Found Safe After Mother Fled Sun City Medical Center

Missing Two-Week-Old Infant Located in Sun City

A two-week-old infant who disappeared after his mother left a Sun City medical center earlier this week has been found safe by authorities. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the child and his 37-year-old mother were located shortly after 8 p.m. on November 7, ending an urgent search that began when the pair left Banner Boswell Medical Center on the afternoon of November 3.

A two-week-old infant and his mother are missing after leaving Banner Boswell Medical Center in Sun City on Nov. 3. Benjamin William Miller requires immediate and constant care, and officials say he is at substantial risk of harm.https://t.co/wQxMOtv3eM pic.twitter.com/u0VRgWYcwY

— https://x.com/12News/status/2119125126822146502

The situation began shortly after the baby’s birth on October 25, 2026. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the child’s mother had reported drug usage prior to the birth, prompting the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) to implement a present danger safety plan. When DCS personnel arrived at the medical center on November 3 to take temporary custody of the infant, the mother—who is a noncustodial parent—allegedly refused to surrender the child and fled the facility on foot.

The Challenges of Locating a Vulnerable Infant

The search drew significant concern due to the extreme age and fragility of the newborn. Officials noted that the child required immediate and continuous care, classifying him as being at a substantial risk of harm. The nature of the disappearance presented unique difficulties for law enforcement and child welfare workers, as infants do not leave the same behavioral or digital footprints as older children.

With an infant, we don’t necessarily, you know, have characteristics to look for. They’re not walking amongst us on the street. So it makes it a lot more challenging, said Leila Woodard, founder of the Arizona Missing Child Task Force.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office indicated that the mother’s reported circumstances, including homelessness and unemployment, contributed to their heightened level of concern regarding the child’s safety. While the mother and infant have been located, authorities have not yet disclosed the specific location where they were found or the current condition of the child. It remains unclear at this time if the mother will face criminal charges related to the incident.

Support Systems and Community Awareness

Advocates emphasize that there are established pathways for parents in crisis to seek assistance rather than resorting to flight. Organizations and state programs exist to help mothers dealing with housing instability or infants experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome, often referred to as newborns detoxing after drug exposure. Woodard stressed that community vigilance remains a critical component in these types of missing person cases.

There are definitely resources for mothers who are homeless that you know, are carrying a child, you know, and shelters and things like that that help women like that. There’s also other nonprofits that help, you know, newborns detoxing after drugs and things like that. So there were definitely different outlets that could have been used, Woodard added.

As the investigation continues, the focus shifts toward the long-term safety and placement of the child. The case highlights the difficult intersection of parental rights, state intervention, and the immediate medical needs of newborns in high-risk environments. Further details regarding the mother’s legal status are expected to emerge as the Department of Child Safety and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office conclude their internal reviews of the event.