Missing father and son located in farm field shed after 15-hour search

WESTMINSTER, Md. – A 12-year-old boy and his father, who weren’t seen for four days, have been safely located.

Maryland State Police say 35-year-old Chirstopher Geiger was arrested without incident when found. His 12-year-old son was recovered unharmed at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday. Both were assessed on scene by emergency medical personnel, and later taken to Carroll Hospital Center as a precaution. Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.

Investigators say the missing report was called into Hampstead Police Department by the child’s mother after he did not report to school Monday. The mother told police that Geiger had taken a black 2021 Jeep Wrangler, and was last seen leaving the child’s school on Friday. An Amber Alert was issued Monday afternoon.

Maryland State Police found the unoccupied Jeep parked in a Westminster farm field around 5:00 p.m. Monday. A perimeter was established, and law enforcement searched the surrounding wooded area. The search stretched through the night, with searchers on foot and riding ATVs. Maryland State Police Aviation Command also conducted an aerial search. In all, police say almost 100 people helped in the search, covering about 1.5 square miles of ground.

At 8:45 Monday morning, the search ended when police found the father, son, and a dog inside a shed about a half mile from the abandoned Jeep. Negotiators were able to make contact with the father. Shortly before 10:40 a.m., the father was arrested and the child was recovered. No injuries were reported.