A woman from New Jersey has been charged with obstruction after her son, who had been reported missing, was found hiding in a crawl space at her home in East Brunswick, authorities said.

The case unfolded when the boy’s father notified police that his 17-year-old son was not present for a scheduled drop-off on Tuesday. Upon being questioned, the boy’s mother, Jennifer Buckley, told authorities she did not have her son at her residence and was unable to locate him. Buckley also indicated that her son was reluctant to visit his father’s home and expressed concerns that he might pose a danger to himself.

Law enforcement officers later discovered the teenager concealed in a crawl space within the mother’s residence. No indication was found that the boy had suffered any harm. Following the discovery, Buckley was taken into custody and charged with obstructing the administration of law.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to assess the circumstances surrounding the boy’s disappearance and concealment.