Racine police say a mother and son are facing felony charges after they lied to officers multiple times about the whereabouts of a 15-year-old girl reported missing by her mother.
Tricia Beck, 44, and Thomas Scott, 18, both of Racine, were charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court with one felony count each of interfering with child custody – party to a crime and one misdemeanor charge each of obstruction. Scott also faces a misdemeanor bail jumping charge. If convicted, Beck faces up to four years, three months in prison and/or up to $20,000 in fines.. Scott could face up to five years in prison and/or up to $30,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, a woman Friday reported her 15-year-old daughter missing after the girl wasn’t home with the woman returned home from work, and she found the girl’s phone on her dresser. The woman posted on social media that her daughter was missing and received several tips, including one with information about the girl being at Beck’s residence with Scott. The woman said she’d told her daughter not to hang out with Scott because of their age difference.
Police say Beck and Scott lied to them numerous times when officers would visit their home and ask about the girl’s whereabouts. While she was missing, the girl’s mother and other relatives walked through various locations in the city – including the pond at a nearby park – looking for her. Finally, officers located the girl hiding in a closet in an upstairs apartment.
During questioning, Beck said she was keeping the girl safe from her mother, the complaint reads. Scott faked bruises to make it look like he’d been in a fight while out looking for the girl and told police that he knew he had to stay away from the girl because of her age. Both Beck and Scott were taken into custody without incident.
Both Beck and Scott remain in the Racine County Jail on $500 and $2,500 cash bonds, respectively. They will both next be in court June 8 for their preliminary hearings.