Police find missing 5 year old boy with his mother's suspected murderer

Posted: 3:02 PM, Aug 21, 2016
Updated: 2016-08-21 22:23:12Z

An Amber Alert for a 5-year-old boy has been canceled. 

Young Douglas Ball III was located safe and sound in Orion Township, according to the Port Huron Police Department. He was reported missing from his Port Huron home on Saturday afternoon, just days after his 5th birthday, after his mother was found dead.

His father, 39-year-old Douglas Ball II, is in custody in connection with his son's disappearance and the murder of his wife, 30 year old Lydia Ball.

Port Huron Police were called to a home in the 1200 block of Rawlins in Port Huron around 4:20 pm Saturday. A home neighbors say the 5 year old lives in with his parents and maternal grandparents. His grandmother found Lydia's body in the basement according to police, there were obvious signs of trauma that indicate foul play.

When police identified Lydia's husband Douglas as the prime suspect and learned he took off with his 5 year old son, an Amber Alert was issued.

Police tracked Ball more than 60 miles to a mobile home community in Orion Twp. Upon confirming he was inside a family member's home with his 5 year old son, they contacted the Oakland County SWAT team.  Police say they made their move early Sunday morning when everyone was asleep, safely securing the 5 year old boy and taking his father, Douglas Ball into custody without incident.

Police say Ball doesn't have a violent past that they are aware of, but he does have past convictions that include unarmed robbery in Genesee County. He is expected to be charged in connection with his wife's death early this week.

Police say his 5 year old son was not physically harmed and they expect Child Protective Services to release him to his grandparents custody.

The son is 4'5" tall and weighs about 100 pounds. He is white with blue eyes and blond hair. He was last seen wearing a Superman shirt.

The father 6'4" tall and weighs about 240 pounds. He is white with blue eyes and blond hair. The Time Herald says he has a pit bull tattoo on his left calf, the world 'gorilla' on his left forearm and the word 'kennel' on his right forearm.

It is believed they took off in a maroon or brown 2000 Chevrolet Malibu with Michigan license plate DFC 9403.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Port Huron Police Department at 810-984-8415.