Linh Ta

lta@dmreg.com

5 p.m. SATURDAY UPDATE:

Authorities have located two Des Moines boys who were abducted by their biological mother, police say.

At about 4 p.m. Saturday, detectives with the Polk County Sheriff's Office made contact with Mary Andrea Purcell, who had abducted her biological children Landon Griffin, 12, and Morgan Griffin, 11, according to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives met with Purcell and the boys at Polk County Field Headquarters shortly after locating them.

The two children were unharmed, and Purcell, who had had her parental rights terminated, was taken into custody on a valid violation of a custodial order without incident, according to the release.

The boys are currently in the care of the Department of Human Services, police say.

An official Amber Alert was issued late Friday, asking drivers to be on the lookout for a gold or brown 2003 Chevrolet Suburban.

Earlier reports indicated the children were last seen with Purcell on Dec. 28. But there was no Amber Alert issued when the boys were initially reported missing. At that point, authorities did not believe the boys were in immediate danger, according to initial reports.

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Lt. Rich Blaylock, spokesman for the sheriff's office, said the children's grandmother had custody of the boys before they went missing. He said the sheriff's office is investigating why the children were with Purcell on Dec. 28 and why it took until Friday to report their abduction.

Baylock said someone who was concerned about the safety of the children called the sheriff's office.

"The circumstances as to why they were with the mom at the time are still being investigated," Blaylock said.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office thanked the public for their assistance and tips provided during the search for the two boys.

The case is still under investigation.