TUCSON, Ariz. — A three-day search for a missing 15-year-old boy in Pima County has come to a close after authorities announced that Ryker Lee was found safe on Wednesday afternoon.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) confirmed that Lee was located shortly before 1 p.m. on Sept. 25, approximately three miles from his home in the Three Points area. His discovery follows an extensive search effort that mobilized law enforcement, search and rescue teams, and local volunteers who utilized drones, horses, and all-terrain vehicles to comb the desert landscape. Officials credited a tip from a member of the community for leading deputies to the teen’s location.
“Thank you to our law enforcement partners and the community for their assistance with this case,” the department stated in a release.
While the search for Lee has ended, the investigation into the household from which he vanished remains active and deeply troubling. The teenager was first reported missing on Sept. 22 after he left his home on foot around 10 a.m. When deputies arrived at the property in the 9100 block of South Silver Star Road to initiate the search, they uncovered evidence of severe child abuse.
According to an interim complaint filed in the case, investigators discovered that the teen had been forced to sleep in a recreational vehicle on the property since March 2026. The living conditions were described as deplorable; the teenager was allegedly confined to a six-by-five-foot padlocked room inside the RV, which featured a wooden door with no doorknob. The vehicle lacked basic necessities, including running water, restroom facilities, and air conditioning. Investigators reported finding evidence of pest infestations near the boy’s sleeping area.
The discovery prompted the Department of Child Services to take custody of Lee’s two younger siblings, ages 10 and 8. Upon inspecting the main residence, detectives reported discovering unsanitary living conditions, including a pervasive odor of cat urine, vomit-stained floors, scattered garbage, and moldy food. Additionally, authorities noted the presence of an unsecured rifle inside a closet.
The boy’s mother, 39-year-old Danielle Lee-Sharp, and his stepfather, 43-year-old Michael Menzie, have been arrested and charged with child abuse. Both have since been released from custody after posting bonds of $5,000 and $10,000, respectively.
The couple is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 5 for a preliminary hearing to address the charges. As of now, the investigation into the circumstances of the children’s living conditions and the alleged abuse continues.
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