Who is Blaze Thibaudeau? Father of 16-year-old boy ‘abducted’ by doomsday-believing mother fears for his life
GILBERT, ARIZONA: Ben Thibaudeau, the father of Blaze Thibaudeau, a 16-year-old boy from Arizona who went missing, told EastIdahoNews that his wife, doomsday-believing mother Spring Thibaudeau, took him to Idaho.
Spring Thibaudeau allegedly believes in the imminent Second Coming of Christ and sees her son as a “Davidic servant” who plays a significant role in the Savior’s return.
Blaze Thibaudeau's abduction involves his sister and uncle who are influenced by Spring Thibaudeau
Thibaudeau left for Idaho with two other family members, his sister and uncle, according to Ben Thibaudeau.
“They feel they needed to take him to an undisclosed location where he would receive his calling and understand his role in the Second Coming,” he said.
He also said that he worries about his son’s safety, especially if he resists or challenges their beliefs.
“I fear that my brother-in-law would restrain him or do something that would incapacitate him,” he said.
Police confirm Blaze Thibaudeau's abduction
The Gilbert Police Department announced on Friday, October 26, that Blaze is believed to have been taken out of Arizona by his mother, along with his 23-year-old sister, Abi Snarr, and his wife’s brother, Brooke Hale.
Blaze has been officially reported missing to law enforcement, according to Daily Mail.
It reported the family were already members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church.
However, Spring grew increasingly obsessed with teachings about the Second Coming.
The police have called the missing person's case an “alleged custodial interference,” with Thibaudeau telling the outlet that he is the temporary sole custody parent of the teen.
Thibaudeau said that he had seen surveillance footage of the four landing at Boise Airport on Monday, driving a white Lexus SUV with pink tow hooks on the front.
He speculated that they had outfitted the vehicle to go into a mountainous region and claimed that he had received “credible information” that they had used their passports to enter Canada.
How long has Spring Thibaudeau been interested in doomsday?
His wife got fascinated by the end-of-the-world religious prophecies in 2015, Thibaudeau said.
She began to spend a lot of money on food supplies, winter equipment, and tents, saying that she had to go to the “mountains” for the “last days.”
Meanwhile, Ben says Brooke wrote "last will and testament" to his children, withdrew $50,000 in cash, and began dividing up his assets.
He said that his daughter and his wife’s brother also got involved in the Second Coming beliefs. "She brought my daughter (Abi) into it," Ben said.
His wife and daughter, as per Ben, told him they were having visions or dreams about preparing for the “last days.”
Ben Thibaudeau's son-in-law Brayden Snarr had also been increasingly concerned
Brayden Snarr, the husband of Snarr, also told the outlet that he was becoming increasingly concerned for his wife who tried to get him to come with them to Idaho.
Thibaudeau and his son-in-law both said that the family has cut off all communication and has not heard from them since they left.
Blaze’s family believes his mother checked him out of school and told him he was going on a trip for his birthday.
The police department urges anyone with information on Blaze’s whereabouts to contact them immediately.
