Missing Boy's Mother Arrested, Search Dogs Join Hunt For 6-Year-Old Who Has Autism

APPLE VALLEY (CBSLA) –  The mother of a missing 6-year-old boy in Apple Valley has been arrested, officials told CBS2 Friday.

Authorities spent the day searching for the boy who went missing in the San Bernardino County town of Apple Valley, just east of Victorville.

Duke Flores was last seen in the area of Cherokee Avenue and Pawnee Road, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reports.

His grandmother said she was the last one to see him at his parent's house 12 days ago. Another relative called police asking for a welfare check on the boy.

Friday evening, search dogs joined in the hunt.

A relative of the boy's told CBS2 the boy's mother changed her story.

The boy's  cousin -- Jennifer Gutierrez -- just wants him home.

"It hurts," she said, "it hurts."

Gutierrez said the boy's mother first told everyone he was with an aunt.

"He's not with an aunt," Gutierrez says, "there's no other aunt out here."

According to Gutierrez, the mother then told people Duke disappeared from the front yard.

"The mother says he was playing outside in the front and she went inside and did some things inside, came back outside, Duke was gone."

She says the mom told then he vanished eight days ago.

"She was scared to tell anybody that he went missing," Gutierrez quotes the mother as saying.

Flores is described as a light-skinned Latino, 3-foot-10, with brown hair and brown eyes. He is tall for his age.

His family told Comstock Duke has autism and likes to play hide-and-seek.

The family is hoping volunteers will help them search far and wide Saturday.

"He's a vibrant, loving boy," says Gutierrez, "he's only 6-years-old. Place yourself in our shoes and come help."