Father and son who vanished in North Carolina found in Georgia, Lincoln County cops say

UPDATE: This story was updated Nov. 8, 2021, to remove the names and images of the father and son since they were found safely and no crime is suspected.

A father and son who went missing Sept. 29, in Denver, North Carolina, have been found — about 200 miles southwest in Georgia, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

The father and his 4-year-old son “are believed to be in good physical condition,” officials said in a news release.

Investigators did not say how the two ended up in Georgia, but they were found in Jackson County by the Georgia Highway Patrol, according to a news release. The county is north of Athens, along Interstate 85.

“A relative is en route to Georgia to pick them up,” officials said.

The two were last seen in Denver around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, when the father picked up his son at school, deputies said in a release.

Investigators suspect their disappearance may have something to do with the father’s cognitive impairment, officials said.

“They were to meet the other parent around 5:00 p.m. but didn’t show up,” officials said. “The wife reported her husband has been diagnosed with a cognitive impairment and has gone missing before but never with his son.”

This story was originally published September 30, 2021 at 8:11 AM with the headline "Father and son who vanished in North Carolina found in Georgia, Lincoln County cops say."