Dad Said He Was Taking 5-Year-Old Son ‘Away’ to Prevent Scheduled Surgery. They Haven’t Been Seen in Days

A 5-year-old Utah boy is missing after authorities say his father, who does not have custody, failed to return him from a scheduled visit, prompting an endangered missing advisory.

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. local time, 45-year-old Benjamin Despain picked up his son, James, from the Bountiful home where the child lives with his mother, Natalie, for a court-ordered visitation, according to ABC affiliate KTVX and NBC affiliate KSL. When Natalie went to Benjamin’s residence three hours later to bring her son home, neither Benjamin nor James was there.

Natalie has sole physical and legal custody of the boy, the outlets reported. She told KTVX that Benjamin has a history of domestic violence and mental illness, and that he is permitted a mandatory three-hour visit with James every Tuesday.

After picking up his son on Dec. 2, Benjamin emailed Natalie saying he had taken James “away” so the child would not have to undergo surgery. The 5-year-old was scheduled to have his adenoids — glands located behind the nasal passage — removed on Thursday, Dec. 4, according to the reports.

Natalie told KSL that Benjamin “does not like anything medical” and insists the procedure is unnecessary. She believes he may have taken James out of state because Benjamin had previously talked about traveling east so their son could learn about Latter-day Saint church history, the outlet reported.

Bountiful Police Lt. Andrew Smith told KSL that investigators are looking into that possibility, as well as checking for connections to locations in Montana and Idaho, where Benjamin has relatives. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether he has left Utah. While Natalie is worried about Benjamin’s mental state, police say they currently have no evidence that James faces immediate harm, according to the outlet.

The day after Benjamin and James disappeared, an ex-parte protective order was issued against Benjamin, but law enforcement has not been able to serve it because his whereabouts remain unknown, the reports state.

James is described as 3 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 47 lbs, with blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a grey shirt with an astronaut rocket design and green pants. Benjamin is described as 6 feet tall and about 185 lbs, with hazel eyes and brown hair. They are believed to be traveling in a red 2006 Toyota Tacoma with Utah license plate 255PCJ and towing a white trailer with license plate 017531Z, according to KSL and KTVX.

The Bountiful Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of James or Benjamin is asked to contact Detective Williams at the Bountiful Police Department at (801) 631-9357 and reference case number B25-21141.