Arizona couple arrested for confining son in padlocked RV room

Arizona police say a 15‑year‑old boy is missing after his mother and stepfather allegedly locked him in a small, padlocked room inside a recreational vehicle for hours each night. The parents, identified as Melissa Hernandez and her husband, Thomas Miller, were arrested on child‑endangerment charges on Tuesday in Maricopa County. Officers found the RV parked on a rural road near the town of Casa Grande, where the boy was last seen on Friday night.

The case has drawn attention to a pattern of severe child abuse that can go unnoticed in mobile homes and RVs. State data show that Arizona recorded more than 6,000 reports of child neglect in 2023, a rise of 12 percent from the previous year. Advocates say confined spaces, lack of water, and no access to a bathroom create conditions that can quickly become life‑threatening. The boy’s confinement reportedly left him without air‑conditioning during a heat wave that pushed temperatures above 100 °F, raising the risk of dehydration and heatstroke.

Police say the RV’s interior was a cramped, metal‑clad space barely large enough for a single mattress. A padlock on the door prevented the teenager from leaving. Neighbors reported hearing muffled cries and seeing the vehicle parked for days. When detectives entered the RV, the boy was gone, and the parents claimed he had “run away.” Investigators found evidence of water bottles and a discarded blanket, suggesting he may have been forced to stay inside for long periods. The parents now face felony child endangerment, illegal confinement, and a pending charge of kidnapping if the boy is found to have been taken elsewhere. The Arizona Department of Child Safety has opened a case and is coordinating a multi‑agency search.

Authorities are conducting a wide‑area search using K‑9 units, drones, and volunteers. A statewide Amber Alert was issued, and a reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the boy’s safe return. If located, the teenager will receive medical evaluation and counseling. The parents will remain in custody pending a preliminary hearing, where a judge will decide on bail. The case underscores the need for vigilant reporting of child abuse, especially in mobile living situations, and may prompt stricter oversight of RV dwellings in the state.