Police Looking For Boy, Non-Custodial Father In Maplewood

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Maplewood Police Department said Sunday it is attempting to locate a 4-year-old boy who is believed to be with his non-custodial father.

The boy has been identified as Daniel Marcel Sheppard, Jr. The non-custodial father has been identified as 38-year-old Daniel Marcel Sheppard, Sr.

Authorities say the mother of the boy called police on Saturday after the father had not returned the boy as expected. She told authorities that at about 1:30 p.m. on April 7, the child's father picked him up and was supposed to bring him to a friend's house. The father and son never showed up at the location, and they haven't been seen or heard from since.

When Sheppard Sr. picked the boy up, he was driving a vehicle taken from an acquaintance without the owner's permission. Authorities say they found the vehicle Sunday morning, abandoned at a Dairy Queen in Lino Lakes.

Police say a cell phone Sheppard had in his possession appears to have been disconnected. Authorities learned that within the last six months, he had talked about leaving with his son.

Sheppard does not have legal custody or visitation rights with the child. He is known to have ties with people in Marshall, Sheldon, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Authorities say it is not known if he was able to get access to another vehicle since abandoning the vehicle found in Lino Lakes.

Authorities say he is wanted for depriving another of custodial or parental rights. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the father and child is asked to call the Maplewood Police Department at (651) 767-0640.