Gwinnett Police announce Royal Marks, 7, has been located, his mother now in custody

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—Michelle Marks has been arrested after kidnapping her 7-year-old son, Royal Marks, in a custody battle. 

The Gwinnett County Police Department had put out an alert for Michelle Marks, who also was wanted in Oklahoma after fleeing to Georgia and then taking her son, who was in the custody of his father.

Gwinnett County Police Department announced tonight that Michelle Marks and her son were located safely. Detectives learned that Michelle Marks had traveled earlier today, Dec. 17, from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport using an alias. Detectives promptly alerted the Los Angeles Police Department, which located Marks and her son at a location previously associated with her. 

Michelle Marks lost custody of her son while they were living in Oklahoma last year for child neglect, police said. Royal was placed by child welfare in the custody of his father in Georgia. 

On Dec.17, the Gwinnett County Police Department responded to a 911 call in reference to a missing child from a home in the 3500 block of Valley Bluff Lane in Snellville.  When police arrived, they learned from the child’s father that Michelle Marks had come to Georgia to visit the child. During the visit, family members overheard the mother make several threats that she would hurt herself, if she completely lost custody of her son.  She reportedly made these threats in response to conversation about a custody hearing that was going to take place in the near future.  According to the child’s father, Michelle Marks took Royal during the middle of the night after making the threats, police said.  

Investigators obtained kidnapping warrants for Michelle Marks.  She also has several warrants for her arrest from Oklahoma, police said.  She has used several names with law enforcement in the past, including Michelle Jones, Michelle Legacy, and Michelle Young, police said.    

Gwinnett County Detectives said it would like to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and federal and state agencies for assisting in this case.

Pictured: Michelle Marks and son, Royal Marks. Photos via Gwinnett County Police Department.