A late-night tip led Portsmouth Police to Burger King on Gallia Street, where two missing foster children were found safe but taken into custody for an unruly report filed by their foster parents.
At just after 8 p.m., Lawrence County Child Protective Services (CPS) contacted Portsmouth Police after receiving information that two boys, aged 14 and 16, who had gone missing from their foster home, were spotted at the fast-food restaurant. Officers quickly responded to the location and confirmed the children’s whereabouts.
The boys were safely taken into custody, and CPS was immediately contacted. The CPS worker confirmed that the foster parents would be dispatched to pick up the children.
An hour later, the foster parents arrived at the scene and took the boys into their custody, though they filed an unruly report against them before leaving.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns for children in foster care and the challenges faced by both foster parents and CPS as they work to ensure the safety and well-being of children in difficult situations.