A Florida teacher has been arrested after being accused of hiding a missing child in their home.
Kelly Simpson, 31, was arrested on Wednesday (August 17) by the Charlotte County Sherriff's Office on a single count of interfering with the custody of a minor.
The male child - identified only as 'D.J.' - had been missing since August 12, when his parents raised the alarm with local police.
Mail Online reports that the runaway got in an argument with his parents and stole $100 from their home on Manatee Lane in Port Charlotte, then skipped school and disappeared.
In a police statement obtained by People, authorities explained that their investigations into the missing child's location led them to Simpson's home in Port Charlotte.
According to reports, Simpson - who teaches English at Charlotte High School, where D.J. attends - had picked the runaway up in her car and taken him to her house.
D.J.'s parents told police that their son was obsessed with Simpson, who had previously been his teacher. They claimed that he "would talk about Kelly constantly and would even bring her coffee," per court papers.
When officers arrived at Simpson's house, she initially denied that D.J. was hiding there. After confirming that she had seen the missing posters around town, officers explained to the teacher that she was committing a criminal offense by concealing the boy. She eventually went inside and convinced D.J. to come out with her.
The runaway told police that he had been picked up by his former teacher and spent one night at her house.
"Kelly Simpson was placed under arrest for interfering with the custody of a minor after picking the juvenile up from an unknown location and concealing him inside her home while having knowledge of his missing endangered status,' the sheriff's office said.
Since her arrest, Simpson has been released on $5,000 bail. Meanwhile, Charlotte High School has unsurprisingly suspended her from teaching and placed her on administrative leave.
Police are treating the case as an ongoing investigation. They have asked that anyone with information call the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office at (941) 639-2101.
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