Byron Joseph Reed, 38, of Eindiven Lane in Creedmoor, and Linda McCotter Reed, 35, were arrested shortly before 5 p.m. in Durham. A sheriff's deputy recognized the 1995 red Ford F-150 4x4 pickup truck the couple was in and pulled it over in a shopping center parking lot at the corner of Cole Mill and Hillsborough roads in Durham.
Department of Social Services officials had met with Reeds on Monday to discuss their children's welfare and were warned that they might have to give up their 2-year-old children because their home, where they had lived for about a year, had no electricity.
At that time, Byron Reed told DSS officials that he would kill himself, the kids and others before he would give them up.
The parents were supposed to go to a meeting on Tuesday, but they failed to appear. DSS officials went to court and got a judge to issue a turnover order regarding the children. When sheriff's officials went to the house, the parents and children were gone and an Amber Alert was later issued.
Just a few hours after the Amber Alert was issued Wednesday, the boys were found safe at a house in Durham County. The kids are now back with their custodial grandparents.
Granville County Sheriff David Smith said that had the parents gone to the Tuesday meeting, their case was something that probably could have been resolved.
Byron Reed is now being held for communicating a threat; Linda Reed is being held for failing to appear for a court appearance.
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