Missing Chesco 4-Year-Old Found Safe, Father Charged: Police

PHOENIXVILLE, PA - The father of a Chesco 4-year-old who was reported missing by state police on Wednesday has been charged, authorities said.

Joseph Dallas Ferko, 28, of Phoenixville, was charged with indirect criminal contempt after refusing to hand over his child to the mother per a court mandate, police said; Ferko argued that he wouldn’t return the boy until he spoke with his attorney.

During a cell phone conversation with an officer, who attempted to negotiate the boy’s return, Ferko’s phone lost power and “officers lost contact with him for several hours,” warranting a missing endangered person advisory for the child, police said.

At around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Ferko dropped the child off at a family member’s home in Phoenixville, police said. The boy was unharmed. Less than an hour later, Ferko was taken into police custody by Chester County Sheriff’s Office deputies on an arrest warrant.

Ferko was arraigned and released on $10,000 unsecured bail, police said.