BENTON COUNTY — Authorities investigating the bodies found in rural Benton County, Missouri have confirmed they are 4-year-old Kaiden Peak, 3-year-old Mayson Peak and their father Darrell Peak, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A.
Darrell Peak had not been seen since leaving his southwest Missouri home with his two sons last week and was charged Monday with two counts of parental kidnapping.
Benton County is located 2 hours southeast of Kansas City.
------
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A father who hasn't been seen since leaving his southwest Missouri home with his two young sons last week was charged Monday with two counts of parental kidnapping.
Greene County’s prosecutor charged Darrell Peak, who left his home in Pleasant Hope on Thursday with Mayson Peak, 3, and Kaiden Peak, 4.
Greene County investigators said they do not believe Peak plans to return to the Springfield area.
The Greene County Sheriff's office said the children and their father were last seen around 7 p.m. Thursday in Warsaw after they left their home a few hours earlier.
A deputy thought she spotted them walking along Missouri 65 Thursday evening but they were gone when she turned around to check on them, the department said.
Earlier Thursday, a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper stopped to assist Peak on Missouri 65, also north of Warsaw, but he declined help. The children were with him and appeared to be fine, the trooper reported.
Darrell Peak suffers from depression and has made suicidal statements in the past, the Missouri State Highway Patrol.