Inkster Police Say Missing Children Located Unharmed After Multi-State Search

 Two boys, ages 4 and 6, were found safe and unharmed in a cornfield near Norwalk, Ohio, after authorities searched across state lines following a reported domestic violence incident in Inkster, Michigan. According to the Inkster Police Department, officers were dispatched at about 10:04 a.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to a residence in the 4500 block of Spring Hill. The search ended with the children located, while the circumstances surrounding their father’s death remained part of the ongoing investigation.

Police Chief Tamika Jenkins said the children’s mother reported that the incident began around 8:45 a.m. She alleged that Brandon Deandre Lee, 36, the boys’ father, tried to restrain her by tying her to a bed and then struck her with a firearm. Police said Lee left the residence with the two children in the woman’s vehicle. The allegations were reported by police and should be understood as claims in the investigation, not independent findings.

According to the account, the mother eventually freed herself and contacted authorities. She reportedly sustained minor wrist injuries. During a subsequent telephone conversation, Lee allegedly threatened to kill himself and the children. The mother told police he had mentioned Rouge Park in Detroit, prompting officers to search that area while trying to locate the boys and assess the risk to their safety. The reported threats raised urgency as investigators worked to determine where the vehicle had traveled.

Investigators used license-plate reader technology and cellphone location information to follow the vehicle’s movements. Their efforts led them beyond Michigan and into Ohio, with the search eventually focusing on the Norwalk area in Huron County. During a phone conversation with authorities, one of the children reportedly said his father had shot himself and that the boys were in a cornfield. Ohio officers then located the children and confirmed they were safe and unharmed.

Authorities also confirmed that Lee had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to reports of the police briefing. The children received care and support from local medical and social services personnel. They were also able to speak with their mother while officials coordinated arrangements for their return to Michigan. The supplied account did not provide further details about the timing of Lee’s death or additional findings from investigators.

Several agencies assisted with the operation, including the Inkster Police Department, Detroit Police Department, Norwalk Police Department and Huron County Sheriff’s Office. Police credited coordination among the departments, along with vehicle-camera information and cellphone location data, with helping investigators trace the vehicle and find the children. Authorities said the incident did not pose a continuing threat to the wider community. The investigation remained ongoing as officers gathered evidence and coordinated the boys’ return.

For the family, the children’s recovery brought relief after a period of uncertainty and serious concern for their safety. Their safe location was the central outcome of a search that crossed state lines and involved multiple agencies. Police also used the incident to remind people experiencing domestic abuse that help and support are available. Further details about the family have not been provided, and the children’s privacy remains important as the investigation continues. Authorities were still coordinating the boys’ return to their mother. Officials have not released information about possible charges or additional investigative conclusions related to the reported incident at this time.