Update
Blaze Thibaudeau has been found safe in Alaska at the Alcan Port of Entry, according to Arizona’s Family News. His uncle and mother have been arrested in connection with his disappearance.
Initial Coverage
An Arizona father is pushing for answers after family members purchased survival supplies and disappeared, reportedly believing the “Second Coming of Jesus Christ” is near.
According to East Idaho News, the Gilbert Police Department launched an investigation Wednesday in connection with 16-year-old Blaze Thibaudeau, who was reported missing and potentially endangered. His father, Ben Thibaudeau said Blaze’s sister, sister Abi Snarr, 23, and their mother, Spring Thibaudeau, and uncle, Brooke Hale, are also missing.
Ben told the outlet that the missing relatives see Blaze as the “Davidic servant” (chosen individual) who “plays a significant role in the Savior’s return.”
“They feel they needed to take him to an undisclosed location where he would receive his calling and understand his role in the Second Coming,” Ben said. “I fear for his safety, especially if my son is contentious, rebellious, or belligerent.”
“I fear that my brother-in-law would restrain him or do something that would incapacitate him.”
Police said Blaze and his mother were last seen in the Boise, Idaho, area on Monday. Family members said no one has heard from them since Monday. No one in the family knows where they could have gone, although Blaze was supposed to have been returned to his father, according to an Arizona judge’s emergency custody ruling.
According to Ben, his estranged wife, Spring, became fascinated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and end-of-times subjects in 2015. Despite a bishop telling her to scale her fascination back to save her marriage, Ben said her obsessions continued to worsen.
“I requested that we go in and talk to our ecclesiastical leader. The bishop essentially told her she needed to stop if she wanted the marriage to survive,” Ben said.
Ben added that his daughter, Abi, became interested in the same things as her mother, but other family members, especially Blaze, had no interest.
“He is in no way a supporter of anything she’s ever believed. He is your typical teenager, and all he wants to do is hang out with friends and be on his phone,” Ben added. “He’s on the football team and has worked so hard to be on that football team. They still have games left this season. There’s no way that he would he would have gone along with it.”
“I’m very concerned about that my son is in danger and that his uncle could be the aggressor if things don’t go the right way.”
Blaze is described as a white male who stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs around 180 pounds. He has light brown/blonde hair and blue/green eyes. He was last seen wearing snow gear.
Anyone with information about the missing family’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Gilbert Police Department at (480) 503-6500 and reference report number 23-161023.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Gilbert Police Department/Blaze Thibaudeau]
