Nickelodeon's Drake Bell who was reported 'missing and endangered' found safe, confirm police
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA: "Endangered" Drake Bell, 36, has been found safe, confirmed police. "At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr Bell is safe," updated the Daytona Beach Police in a Facebook post that announced his disappearance.
On Thursday, April 13, announced that Bell was missing and added that he was last seen near Mainland High School in Florida's Daytona Beach on Wednesday evening, April 12. "He should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW," read the Facebook post under which the department wrote, "For those asking, this is a legitimate post from the Daytona Beach Police Department. If you have any information, please contact Detective Jayson Wallace," while netizens called it a hoax. A day before he was reported missing, Bell apparently spent a normal day with his young son at SeaWorld Orlando, reported Page Six.
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Was Bell's son with him at the time of missing?
On Thursday, a photo of Bell and his toddler son sitting down at the theme park on Tuesday, April 11 was obtained by TMZ. The actor was alone with his child and did not appear to be in any kind of distress. The picture showed the toddler holding onto a Cookie Monster doll.
Mainland High School where Bell was last seen is more than an hour away from SeaWorld Orlando. It is not yet known why the actor was near the high school and police have not revealed whether his son was with him when he was reported missing.
The Nickelodeon alum shares his toddler with his estranged wife Janet Von Schemling and the pair has been going through a separation. His wife filed for divorce after incidents of the actor's issues relating to substance abuse in December 2022 when the incident took place in front of their young son.
Bell served two-year probation for child endangerment
In 2021, Bell pleaded guilty to two criminal charges, including disseminating matters harmful to juveniles and child endangerment. He was on two-year probation following the charges. According to prosecutors, the 'iCarly' alum met a girl in 2017 at Cleveland when she attended one of his concerts. He then sent the girl "inappropriate social media messages." In 2015, he was charged with driving under the influence.
