LAS VEGAS -- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police say an alert to find an 11-year-old boy and his biological father earlier Saturday morning has been canceled after they were found safe in central Utah.
The endangered persons alert was issued after a woman identified a body found Friday by a hiker near Las Vegas as her 8-year-old son. Her 8-year-old son and 11-year-old son were with their biological father and last seen Thursday night.
The alert was issued and authorities asked for the public's help as well as area hospitals to look out for the two.
However, police said Saturday afternoon, the two boys are alive and safe, and with their father. During an afternoon press conference, police said the father was in an area of central Utah without good cell phone coverage. The children's mother was able to speak to them both.
As for the mistaken identity of the body found at the trailhead Friday, officials say photographs of the body and pictures of the 8-year-old boy do look similar.
"There is a very close resemblance between the photographs and the 8-year-old child. I'll leave it at that," Lt. Ray Spencer said.
Officers are back to square one in trying to identify the body of a child found Friday, they estimate the child is between the ages of 8 and 12. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will be assisting in the search.
Watch the full police update on Saturday morning below:
