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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
UPDATE: Another Suspect Arrested in Kidnapping Case
WSIL-TV-- A Royalton, Ill. man linked to Friday's discovery of a missing child is behind bars.
The boy's father, Michael Chekevdia, tells News Three authorities arrested Robert Sanderfur around 10 a.m. Sunday.
Sanderfur was living in the Franklin County home where police found Ricky Chekevdia, a seven-year-old boy who had been missing for nearly two years.
Authorities say they found the boy and his mother hiding in a secret room at his grandmother's house.
The mother and grandmother are being held on felony kidnapping charges. Both women are due in court on Tuesday.
Michael Chekevdia had legal custody of the boy when he went missing. He still doesn't know when he'll be able to see his son.
Ricky Chekevdia is currently in DCFS custody.
FRANKLIN COUNTY-- Police find a Royalton child two years after authorities say he was abducted by his mother.
Police say the boy’s mom and grandma were hiding him in pitiful conditions.
"I had faith in the system, in police and in my God" says Mike Chekevdia, the boy’s father.
For nearly two years police say Ricky Chekevdia was held captive inside a Franklin County home he never left, not even to play outside.
"We let him out of the [police] car and he ran around like he'd never seen the outdoors; it was actually very sad" says Stan Diggs with the Illinois State Police.
Ricky's now nearly 7, found alongside his mom Shannon Wilfong.
Investigators say they were discovered inside a secret room the family had built to hide the two.
The room was just five by 12 feet, its ceiling only four feet high.
"Basically it was a hidden compartment, you move a panel and it was inside a wall" says Officer Diggs.
Homemade signs cover the yard of the house in rural Royalton; seeming to taunt police that the boy was there, but searches never located the secret room until now.
"Surprisingly, Ricky is in very good spirits for someone who's been isolated in that house with no other outside interaction. He's very polite, social, talkative little boy" says Diggs.
Ricky's father says his priorities are to get the boy back in school and to the dentist, but he knows a normal life is a ways off.
"You know it's just one day at a time, it's probably going to take a lifetime" says Chekevdia.
The boy remains in DCFS custody. No one is sure what Ricky has been told about his father and authorities want the transition to be smooth.
Mike Chekevdia says he's willing to wait a little while longer for their reunion.
"My life was basically on hold for the last 2 years... i'll be there for him" he says.
Ricky’s mother and grandmother face one to three years behind bars.
By: Christen Craig
ccraig@wsiltv.com
Now: 1283451949
