Court filing: Home of missing Tucson boy 'deplorable'

Residents in the Three Points area are being asked to search sheds, motor homes, outbuildings and other secluded spaces for 15-year-old Ryker Lee, who remains missing and may require insulin for type 1 diabetes. Ryker was last seen Tuesday morning near State Routes 86 and 286, in the Robles Junction area west of Tucson. Investigators said he left on foot. As of Thursday afternoon, the Pima County teen had not been found, and the sheriff’s office said his medical condition has elevated the urgency of the search.

The case took a serious turn after deputies investigating Ryker’s disappearance went to the family’s home in the 9100 block of South Silver Star Drive, near Arizona 86, also known as West Ajo Way. According to an initial complaint filed in Pima County Justice Court, officers described the residence as unsanitary and dangerous. They reported a strong smell of cat urine, flooring marked by cat urine and vomit, insects and garbage throughout the rooms, and conditions that made it difficult to move through parts of the house.

The complaint says food in the refrigerator was not edible, while a leaking pipe had created a hole in the center of the kitchen floor. Deputies also found a rifle in the primary bedroom closet that was not secured and could be easily reached. The court filing described two younger children sleeping on plastic mattresses without bedding. Their ages were listed differently in the available accounts, as 10 and 6 in the complaint and 10 and 8 in a sheriff’s account. The children’s nearest bathroom reportedly did not have a sink.

Investigators said Ryker had been confined for hours at a time in a small, padlocked area inside an RV parked outside the residence. The space was estimated at roughly 6 feet by 5 feet, with two windows covered from the outside. The RV reportedly had no electricity, running water, air conditioning or bathroom. Deputies found spiders and webs near the box spring where he slept, along with several plastic bottles containing what appeared to be urine. Ryker’s mother reportedly told investigators the bottles belonged to him.

The children’s mother, 39-year-old Danielle Renae Lee-Sharp, and stepfather, 43-year-old Michael Aaron Menzie, were arrested Tuesday. Each faces three counts of child abuse, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and court documents. Both had been released on bond by Thursday. The state took custody of the two younger children. Sheriff Chris Nanos said the children had previously been involved with the Department of Child Services and suggested the family’s history with the agency extended back four or five years.

Authorities have released details intended to help residents identify Ryker. He was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 120 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. When he was last seen, he was wearing a neon green shirt and floral-print pants. The sheriff’s office said he was reported missing at about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday from the family home, while another public notice placed his last sighting around 10 a.m. near the two state routes. The difference in reported times does not change the request for residents to report any possible sighting immediately.

The rural layout of Three Points presents a particular challenge for searchers. Unlike a compact city neighborhood, the area includes large properties where a person could remain unseen. Nanos urged property owners to inspect their land carefully, including sheds, RVs and other places that could provide shelter. He said authorities are treating the case differently from a typical runaway report because of Ryker’s medical needs and the possibility that his life could be at risk.

Neighbors have joined the official effort. On Wednesday, Three Points residents organized search teams using all-terrain vehicles and drones. Stephanie Barden, whose teenage daughter knew Ryker, said she was shaken by the allegations and wanted the community to bring him home safely. Her daughter described Ryker as quiet but fun, and said he had not been attending a traditional high school, reportedly receiving his education at home. Barden said the situation was frightening because people nearby had not known what he might have been experiencing.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who has information about Ryker’s whereabouts or believes they may have seen him to call 911. Residents are also being asked to check their own properties and report anything that could help investigators locate him. The criminal allegations against Lee-Sharp and Menzie will proceed separately from the search, and the conditions described in the court filing are allegations at this stage. For Tucson area residents, the immediate concern remains finding Ryker quickly and getting him the medical care he may need.