Dakota Bender

CHINA GROVE, N.C. -- Rowan County authorities are searching for a 3-year-old boy who was abducted by his mother in China Grove.

The Rowan County Sheriff's Office has a warrant for the arrest of 22-year-old Kesha Bender.

The sheriff's office says Bender fled with her son, Dakota, during a meeting with the boy's father, who has full custody of his son.

Edwin Bender and Dakota live in West Virginia but had come to North Carolina to see Kesha Bender.

During the meeting, Dakota's father went inside a store and that's when Dakota was abducted.

Authorities say Kesha Bender was driving a 2000 GMC Yukon with a North Carolina license plate NVN-9227.

Dakota and his mother have not been seen since August 2. Authorities believe they could be in Texas.

Anyone with information should call the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700.