AP: Texas

01/12/2006

Associated Press

A 14-year-old boy reported missing by his family was located in Mexico this week with his former teacher.

The teacher, Angela Comer, 26, was arrested Tuesday night in Nuevo Laredo by Mexican authorities, according to a statement from the FBI.

Authorities in Kentucky were investigating whether the two had a sexual relationship.

Comer, a former math teacher at Monroe County Middle School, has been charged with custodial interference, a felony, and also faces a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Steven Gurley, special agent in charge of the Kentucky FBI, said in the statement.

Comer's 3-year-old son was with her when she was arrested at a hotel.

The 14-year-old boy had been reported missing by his grandmother on Saturday. He and Comer's son were taken into protective custody by police in Laredo, Texas, the FBI said. Comer is also in Texas, awaiting extradition to Kentucky.

Officials acknowledged that Comer and her former student may have been carrying on a relationship.

"The relationship with him, there could possibly be some evidence on that," said Tompkinsville police officer T.J. Hestand, who is investigating the youth's disappearance. Hestand said the boy likely left with Comer "at his own free will."

Monroe County Attorney Wes Stephens said Wednesday that the boy's grandmother had tried to stop Comer from communicating with the boy. The grandmother, who is the boy's guardian, had contacted Stephens because she was concerned about the possible relationship.

Stephens said Comer had been charged in November with unlawful transaction with a minor, a misdemeanor, for trying the coax the boy into disobeying his grandmother. Stephens said Comer and the boy communicated by e-mail.

The grandmother "was just trying to put a barricade up between the juvenile" and Comer, Stephens said.

The e-mails are being used by authorities in the investigation into whether Comer and the youth had an illegal sexual relationship, Stephens said.

Comer resigned from her teaching job in November.

The FBI was contacted by Tompkinsville police after the boy's disappearance. A canvass by Mexican authorities of hotels in Nuevo Laredo located Comer, the FBI said.

Hestand said Comer, her son and the 14-year-old boy should be back in Kentucky by Friday or Saturday.