Missing 12-year-old Conroe boy found; Amber Alert canceled

CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- Conroe police canceled an Amber Alert for a missing 12-year-old boy after he was safely located Wednesday afternoon.

The alert was for Dereck Wayne Felder, Jr. Police said the 12-year-old was last seen Monday and was believed to be with 40-year-old Cornelius Alix, who's also known as Chekita Joseph.

Felder returned home Wednesday afternoon, apparently unharmed.

Authorities say Alix and Felder knew each other from church. Felder's mother say they met Alix there, where he presented himself as a woman. Quashon Lucky says she became increasingly concerned about the interest Alix was taking in her son. Police say she tried to end the relationship.

Police say they initially classified Felder's case as a runaway when he was reported missing two days ago, but they decided to elevate it into an Amber Alert because there was concern over the secrecy of the child's relationship with Alix.

Investigators are still questioning Felder about his interactions with Alix over the last few days.

Alix is not in custody but is considered a person of interest.