Abducted Missouri baby found in Brookshire in safe hands

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Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Abducted Missouri baby 'safe and happy' after he's found in Texas
Eli Bandurovskiy was found safe several days after being abducted by his father in Missouri, police say.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- After being abducted by his biological father on Friday, a 1-year-old Missouri boy will soon be back with his family.

Little Eli Bandurovskiy spent much of the day at the Brookshire Police Department after he was found by investigators just west of Katy this afternoon.

His father, Viktor Bandurovskiy, is being held in Brookshire for parental kidnapping.

Our cameras were there tonight as Eli was placed in the custody of CPS, where he will have a safe and warm place to sleep tonight.

The boy's family began Christmas morning wondering if he was safe, even alive. Now they have the answer they have been waiting to hear for days.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Abducted boy placed in CPS custody

ABC13 EXCLUSIVE: New video shows Eli Bandurovskiy as he was being transfered into CPS custody tonight in Brookshire.

Viktor and Eli were last seen at a motel in Springfield on Friday.

Missouri police issued an Amber Alert for Eli last night after investigators said Viktor's cell phone was pinged in the Houston area.

Police were in a race against time to find the missing boy because his father allegedly made a number of threats against Eli. Investigators said his father has a history of domestic abuse and drug use, and that the child was believed to be in grave and immediate danger.

Even after the arrest, investigators have not said why Viktor left Missouri with the boy.

The good news at least for Eli's family is that he is in safe hands tonight.

WATCH: Missing Missouri baby found safe in Texas

Eli Bandurovskiy was found safe on Christmas Day in Texas after going missing in Missouri on Friday.

WATCH: Search for missing Missouri boy comes to Houston

Investigators are looking for a Missouri man and his abducted 1-year-old son right here in the Houston area.

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