Missing 7-year-old returned to Paulding

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A father accused of lying under oath to get custody of his 7-year-old son and then leaving the state with the child turned himself into Paulding County police Friday afternoon.

William Eugene Hoover, 50, brought the child, Josh Hoover, to the sheriff's office two days after the search began to find the child.

Police believe William Hoover may have taken the child to North Carolina, according to Crpl. Brandon Gurley with the Paulding County Sherriff's Office. Josh Hoover was last seen leaving with his father at William Hoover's home in Temple on Jan. 17, Gurley said.

William Hoover had been granted custody of the child after presenting a Carroll County court order to Paulding County officials, Gurley said. Josh had been in the custody of his maternal grandmother following his mother's death in November.

But earlier this month, Carroll County Superior Court ordered that custody of the child be returned to his grandmother, Julia Jeorge. By then, Hoover and the child could not be located.

Police believe family and friends told Hoover about the news reports seeking to locate the child, and that prompted him to return the child, Gurley said.

William Hoover was charged with interstate interference with child custody. His bond was set at $2,950 late Friday afternoon.

The child, who was questioned by investigators, has been returned to his grandmother, Gurley said.