B.C. boy, allegedly abducted by his mother, found safe in Arizona

Vancouver police say a B.C. boy who was believed to be abducted by his mother has now been found safe near Phoenix, Arizona.

In early March, police issued a release saying they were looking for nine-year-old Emerson Cusworth, believed to be with his mother, Shawana Puja Chaudhary.

Chaudhary shares custody of Emerson with his father and they have a court-ordered parenting schedule. Police were notified Emerson was missing when his father went to pick him up after school on March 9 and Emerson was not there.

The Vancouver Police Department’s (VPD) Special Investigations Section took over the investigation.

With the help of United States law enforcement, detectives were able to track Chaudhary, Emerson and his younger sister to the Phoenix area. They were found safe on March 27.

Chaudhary has been arrested for extradition to Canada and steps are being taken, with the assistance of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, to have Emerson and his sister returned to Canada.

Crown Counsel in B.C. has approved a charge against Chaudhary related to the alleged abduction. She will be arrested by the VPD upon her return to Canada in the coming days.