Brandon Lathan held and kissed his son, 2-year old Demerius, for the first time in two days. The child had been missing, last seen with Cecil Hopkins, a man married to Demerius' maternal grandmother.
According to family, Hopkins was to take Demerius to a doctor's appointment on Thursday in The Woodlands and hasn't been seen since. Authorities say Hopkins left the child with friends.
"He left him yesterday with people he knew and they kept the baby until they realized he was missing and they called police," said the boy's paternal grandfather Nate Lathan.
Lathan says Hopkins has disappeared before and has a history of personal issues.
"More like drug issues and I hope he can get help for that," said Lathan.
"With that in mind why was the baby left in his care?" we asked.
"Well everyday he's not a bad guy," he said.
"What do you want to say to him now?" we asked Lathan.
"Right now I just want to say -- I hope he's safe," said the boy's father. "I hope he's OK and I hope he gets help."
Hopkins is believed to be driving a white 2001 Hyundai Accent with Texas license plate SVY 711.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hopkins is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Missing Persons unit at 713-755-7427.
