9 year old boy found 7000 miles away from home after he was reported missing by his mother. 9 year old Billy Hanson was found in the remote south pacific island just off New Zealand, 7000 miles from home.
Billy Hanson had gone with his father 46 year old Jeffrey Hanson for a boat ride on his 1976 Cooper sailboat. The two did not come back, even after a flight that was supposed to bring back the 9 year old boy found 7000 miles away was sent to pick the boy from his father's home state.
An international warrant of arrest was issued when his mother reported the incident to the police. An international search ensued which ultimately led to the finding of the boy.
Billy Hanson was located on Niue, a coral atoll 1500 miles northeast of New Zealand and 5500 miles away from Seattle. The young boy was staying on top of the coral with his dad all along.
Billy's dad separated from Billy's mum a while ago. The dad has visitation rights over his son. The father, a known drug abuser who would occasionally abuse his child by hitting him so as to toughen him up, was having his son visit him when he decided to run away with the 9 year old boy. Found 7000 miles away with young Billy, the father is now under custody for international parental kidnapping.
Jeffrey was arrested by the 15 man island police after a tip off from a man who recognized him from a wanted poster.
Young Billy is currently being taken care of by the locals at the island and he is supposedly enjoying himself. Reports say the young lad is treating the whole affair as an adventure. "When I talked to Jeff (Hanson) he told me they were going to Blake Island," said Billy's mother Joanna in September. "I love my son, and I want him back." Plans are underway to return the 9 year old boy found 7000 miles away to his home in Pennsylvania.
