Law enforcement agencies are looking for individuals after a mother allegedly transported her child across state lines as part of a doomsday scheme in preparation of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Spring Thibaudeau, of Gilbert, Arizona, is missing along with her daughter, Abi Snarr, 23, and son, Blaze, 16. The kids' uncle and Spring's brother, Brooke Hale, is said to be with them. East Idaho News reported that they were last seen in the Boise area. Blaze Thibaudeau is 6-foot-1 with blonde hair, blue eyes and he weighs 155 pounds.
Brenda Carrasco, spokesperson for the Gilbert Police Department, told Newsweek Friday there are no new leads in the investigation since Wednesday's social media post.
On Wednesday, the Gilbert Police Department posted on Facebook that it had begun investigating what it described as an alleged custodial interference involving Blaze, who "is believed to have been taken out of Arizona by his mother." Ben Thibaudeau, Blaze's father, is reportedly the custodian. Brayden Snarr, Abi's husband, said he believes Blaze is on the trip under false pretenses, believing his family told the boy he was going on a surprise 17th birthday trip, according to East Idaho News.
Ben told East Idaho News that his family members abruptly purchased thousands of dollars worth of survival gear prior to boarding a plane to Idaho. They subsequently cut off all communication because they believe Jesus is returning.
"They see [Blaze] as a Davidic servant (chosen individual) who plays a significant role in the Savior's return," Ben Thibaudeau told the publication. "They feel they needed to take him to an undisclosed location where he would receive his calling and understand his role in the Second Coming.
"I fear for his safety, especially if my son is contentious, rebellious or belligerent. I fear that my brother-in-law would restrain him or do something that would incapacitate him."
Haley Kramer, a spokesperson for the Boise Police Department told Newsweek that the department has taken a police report and is coordinating with other law enforcement agencies. It referred further questions to Gilbert officials.
Bart Graves, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), told Newsweek via email that under Arizona law, the locality where the family last resided in the state is in charge of the investigation and if necessary will ask DPS to put out an "ATL," or attempt to locate.
"I know of no such ATL and DPS would not be involved in that investigation," Graves said.
Four days ago, Blaze's last TikTok post included eerie messaging that users have connected with his disappearance.
The post included messages such as, "What if our parents find out" and "What if we get caught?"
"Consequences are temporary, memories are forever," read another.
Long phone calls and doomsday prep
Ben Thibaudeau said that Spring first became interested in the Second Coming back in 2015, reading books on the topic and becoming so immersed in it that even the local bishop told her it could potentially ruin her marriage. The pair were regulars at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Spring then got their daughter involved, and the pair exchanged dreams about the subject matter that led to doomsday prep. Brooke Hale, of Provo, Utah, also delved into the theory, talking to the two females on the phone for hours about it.
"She started spending a significant amount of money on food prep," said Ben, who added that besides Abi none of his other four kids were interested or believed the theory. "She was buying a lot of winter gear, even though we live in Arizona. She was buying tents.
"She was convinced that the saints would have to gather in the last days up in the mountains, and she was preparing for that."
Blaze, on the other hand, is described by his father as a "typical teenager" who is on the football team and spends leisure time with friends.
Ben added that his relationship with Spring was cordial and that after time apart he moved back in with her in early October.
Abi and Brooke reportedly tried to convince her husband, Brayden, to join her and her mother and uncle and get on their flight to Idaho. They read him scripture as a way to entice him.
When Spring and Abi left, Brayden became emotional and again attempted to persuade Abi to stay.
"She texted, 'I love you. We will be back in a few years. And if you're still around, I'll come find you,'" Brayden told East Idaho News.
The pair didn't again exchange any texts. Calls later made to Abi and Hale went straight to voicemail, while Spring's phone seems to have been disconnected.
Ben believes the group may have entered Canada.
Newsweek reached out to Ben via social media.
Anyone with any information on Blaze's whereabouts is asked to call the Gilbert Police Department at (480) 503-6500 and reference report number 23-161023.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek reporter based in Michigan. His focus is reporting on Ukraine and Russia, along with social ... Read more
