Missing Lake Geneva Family Found Safe in Georgia, Mother Faces Criminal Charges

A Lake Geneva mother and her three children have been found safe, police say, calling off a massive, multi-state search for the family that mysteriously vanished two weeks ago.

"We can confirm at this time that Michalene Melges and her three sons have been located and are safe in Georgia," the City of Lake Geneva Police Department announced Tuesday. "We will offer further updates at the appropriate time. We would like to thank the media and citizens for their concern and assistance in this matter."

Lake Geneva police also confirmed Michalene Melges is in police custody and faces charges for violating a child custody agreement. The children were reported to be in child protective services while their father traveled to meet them. 

The family was found by Savannah Police as well as the FBI, according to NBC 5's affiliate TMJ4.

Melges and her three sons – 14-year-old Hans Melges, 12-year-old Kristian “Max” Melges and 10-year-old Maverick “Buddy” Melges – were last seen May 10 leaving their upscale family home in the 900 block of South Lakeshore Drive.

Police uncovered records showing the 40-year-old mother rented a van in Lake Bluff, Illinois the day before they were last seen. The van was returned four days later, police said, to a rental facility in Plano, Texas on May 13.

On Monday, police asked for the public's help in finding their whereabouts, reporting that the family had possibly been traveling with their two dogs, an English black lab and white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

"Everybody we've talked to at this point says this is out of character," Lt. Ed Gritzner told NBC affiliate TMJ4 Monday. "Especially since she had called the boys in school excused and then didn't show up when they were supposed to be back."

Further details surrounding their disappearance or how they were found have not yet been released.

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