The parents of a missing 12-year-old boy in Oklahoma are in custody on child abuse charges, as authorities intensify their search for the child, whose disappearance investigators have described as suspicious.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Ryan Davis vanished on January 2 from a community roughly 40 miles south of Oklahoma City. He was last seen while staying at a hotel with his family. One week later, on January 7, investigators announced that Davis’ mother, Kimberly Cole, 33, and his stepfather, George Cole, 43, had been taken into custody.

Both face multiple charges, including child abuse and child sexual abuse. Kimberly Cole is also charged with a “crime against nature,” according to court records.

OSBI spokesperson Hunter McKee said investigators determined the home environment was unsafe for Davis, who also goes by RJ and Ryker.

“This is extremely sad. This is a horrific case so far for everybody involved,” McKee said. “The home was not safe for this child.”

Authorities said a $5,000 reward was issued last week for information confirming Davis’ location and leading to his safe return. Despite a growing number of tips, the boy has not been found.

“We do believe he is alive at this time, so we are doing everything we can to locate him,” McKee said. “Time is of the essence. We have to find this child.”

The search has expanded into a multi-agency operation involving drones, dogs, and water searches. Investigators have focused recent efforts around Lake Burtschi in Grady County, where volunteers have joined law enforcement in combing the area.

A volunteer identified as Kent Jones told KOCO that he has been using a drone to search for signs of a campsite. “They tell me RJ really knows good camping skills,” Jones said. “I’m looking for signs of anything he may have left behind.”

A handwritten sign posted near the lake and shared on Facebook read: “RJ. This is a safe place. Plz come to our home.”

Goebel Music, the chief of police in Chickasha, said authorities are focused on locating the child and ensuring his safety. “All we want to do is lay eyes on this child, get him the medical care that he needs, and assure him, physically and emotionally, he will not be returning back to that environment,” Music said, adding that Davis will not be allowed to return to live with his parents.

McKee acknowledged that Davis has run away in the past, though he declined to provide details. Investigators have asked residents in the Chickasha area to review surveillance footage for any sign of the boy.

Before her arrest, Kimberly Cole publicly thanked searchers in an interview with ABC’s Oklahoma City affiliate, saying, “We just want our son back home, we want him back.” According to her Facebook page, Davis had previously gone missing on December 17, though it is unclear when or how he was found in that instance.

The case has also drawn attention to the Coles’ wider family situation. According to The Oklahoman, a member of George Cole’s family has obtained a restraining order against both adults.

Ryan Davis is described as 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 85 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing a red-and-black plaid shirt, dark jeans, and brown steel-toe boots.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the OSBI tip line at 800-522-8017.