Dad arrested, missing Concord boys found safe in Missouri, police confirm

CONCORD, N.C. — The father of two boys reported missing from Concord has been arrested and the brothers were found safe, police confirmed.

Concord police were called for a possible kidnapping to a home on Wilshire Avenue in Concord on Saturday.

Officers then learned Josiah Brooks, 8, and Aaron Toliver, 11, who are brothers, were taken from a neighbor’s yard where they were playing and put into a white vehicle by a man who is believed to be their father.

The two live with their grandmother on Wilshire Avenue, according to police.

Police believed their father, Aaron Eugene Toliver, could have been headed to Texas or Florida, where he has family. He was considered a person of interest in the investigation, according to police.

On Monday morning, sources told Channel 9 Toliver had been arrested and the boys were found in Missouri that morning. Police confirmed they were found safe around 8:30 a.m. at a Super 8 hotel in Rock Port. They will be reunited with their grandmother, police added.

Their father will be charged with misdemeanor domestic violence protective order and felony abduction by a parent.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of locating these two,” said Terry Burgin, U.S. Marshal with the Western District of North Carolina. “Those 24 hours are the most critical time. We never know, although parents might be involved. We never know what is of the abductor.”

The boys’ grandmother was ecstatic about the news of their safe return.

“I’m just so grateful,” said Roseann Toliver, the grandmother. “I really am. I’m so grateful to God, to the community, to my good neighbor, to my godson, and all of you that have you know, wished us well and been concerned for the safety of little Aaron and. And we call them Joe-Joe Josiah.”

Channel 9′s Glenn Counts spoke with neighbors Sunday who said they were very worried about the boys and were praying they got home safely.

“I believe the boys will be returned,” neighbor Loita Cagle said. “And anybody that loves the Lord has faith and agrees with us that the Lord is going to return the boys safely. And they’re going to be in good health and good, stable condition.”

Cagle’s grandson said he saw it all happen.

“I’ve been with them for a long time, and I’m just worried about them,” 11-year-old Xayne Cagle said.

He was out playing with the brothers when their father allegedly walked them to his car.

“I saw that,” Xayne said. “When they started driving away, I was like -- I was getting confused because he was driving too fast.”

He ran and told his grandmother, who called the police. Since that moment, officers had been looking for the boys.

“I’m happy he was able to give the color of the car, the type of car it was, I’m glad he was attentive,” Loita Cagle said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Concord Police Department at 704-920-5000.

(WATCH BELOW: CMPD investigating missing south Charlotte woman)

CMPD investigating missing south Charlotte woman

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