Howard Darden, 11, and his mother, Angela Darden, have been found safe in North Carolina according to Seminole County Sheriff's deputies.

Deputies say Angela Darden removed the boy from Piedmont Lakes Middle School, in Apopka, at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday without his father's permission.

The sheriff's office says says the two were found in the parking lot of Southgate Mall in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. They say a husband and wife recognized the car and license plate after seeing a TV news report.

The VW beetle, which was yellow, had been spray painted black.

Angela Darden, 45, was found inside the mall, while Howard was in the car in good health.

“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders," said Howard Darden Sr. "If I had some energy to cry I would probably do that. I haven’t been to sleep since Tuesday, since I first found out. I’m like… I just… thank you. Whoever saw whatever news footage somewhere. That’s what I was talking about. If you see something say something and that’s what someone did."

Darden was being monitored through a GPS device following an aggravated stalking incident involving Howard's father. But deputies said within hours of taking the child from school, she cut off her ankle bracelet. Authorities notified Howard's father after discovering the GPS device was removed.

Both parents had obtained court orders granting full custody to the requesting parent. However, Angela Darden failed to appear at a hearing Wednesday morning, causing her custody rights to expire.

Late Wednesday night, deputies said Angela Darden sent a concerning text to a family member. Deputies said Darden has a history of instability, and Howard Darden is believed to be in danger.