Parents of missing Pima County teen arrested for child abuse, deputies confirm

A search for a missing 15 year old in the Three Points area southwest of Tucson has expanded into a child abuse investigation involving his parents. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Ryker Lee remains missing, while two younger children from the same household have been placed in the custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. The investigation also led to the arrests of Lee’s mother, Danielle Renae Lee-Sharp, and his stepfather, Michael Aaron Menzie. Both are accused of three counts of child abuse and have been released on bond, according to sheriff’s officials.

Deputies were dispatched Tuesday, September 22, to a property on Silver Star Drive after receiving a report that Lee had run away. The property is in the rural community of Three Points, also known as Robles Junction, southwest of Tucson. Earlier information from the sheriff’s office said Lee was last seen at about 10 a.m. near the intersection of State Route 86 and State Route 286. Investigators said he left the area on foot. The circumstances surrounding his departure have not been fully disclosed.

The sheriff’s office said Lee has a medical condition that requires medication, adding urgency to the effort to locate him. He was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 120 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. At the time he was last seen, officials said he was wearing a neon green shirt and floral print pants. Anyone who sees Lee or has information about where he may be is asked to call 911 rather than attempting to handle the situation independently.

The missing person investigation prompted detectives to examine conditions at the family’s home. During that work, investigators reported finding evidence of abuse involving three children. According to the sheriff’s department, Lee had been confined in a small room inside a recreational vehicle on the property. The room was padlocked, and the recreational vehicle did not have running water, restroom facilities, or air conditioning, officials said.

Two other children, ages 10 and 8, were found inside the main residence. The sheriff’s department described the living conditions there as deplorable and unsanitary. Officials did not release additional details about what investigators found, how long the children had allegedly been living in those conditions, or what specific conduct led to each charge. The two younger children were removed from the home and placed in state custody. Their names were not released.

Lee-Sharp, 39, and Menzie, 43, were each arrested on three counts of child abuse. The charges cover the three children identified in the investigation, according to information released by the sheriff’s department. Officials said both defendants are currently out on bond. The available information does not include their bond amounts, court dates, attorneys, or statements from either of them. An arrest is an allegation, and the charges must be resolved through the court process.

The case began with a report that Lee had left a rural property, but the sheriff’s department has not said whether detectives believe he left voluntarily, whether anyone helped him, or whether he could be in the Three Points area. Authorities also have not announced whether the medical condition that requires medication contributed to his disappearance. Because he is still missing, investigators continue to seek information about his movements after he was last seen Tuesday morning.

Residents who live near Three Points, travel on State Routes 86 or 286, or may have been in the area around the time Lee disappeared could have information important to the search. The sheriff’s public description, including his clothing and physical characteristics, is intended to help people identify him. Anyone who sees a person matching that description should call 911 immediately. Officials have not provided a separate tip line or announced a public search event.

The investigation remains active on two fronts: deputies are working to find Lee, and authorities are continuing the child abuse case involving the home. The younger children remain in the custody of the Department of Child Safety while those proceedings move forward. The sheriff’s office said no additional details were immediately available. Until Lee is located, authorities are urging members of the public to treat any possible sighting as urgent and report it without delay.