New Mexico women arrested after missing boy found hiding in closet
By Amari Saxton
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LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KOAT) — A Las Cruces woman and her mother were arrested after being suspected of knowingly allowing a teenage runaway to reside in their home for several months.
According to reports, in July 2025, Las Cruces police received reports of a 15-year-old boy who ran away from home, and his whereabouts were unknown. Police exhausted several leads and posted his missing status on social media but were unable to locate him for a year.
Police learned that Buster and Stevenson knew the boy was a runaway. Police also determined the missing teen was not attending school during the time.
Investigators then learned that the missing teen might be associated with Buster’s 15-year-old daughter. Police interviewed Buster, Stevenson and the girl, but they claimed to have no knowledge of the boy’s whereabouts and had not seen him in several months.
Police then learned that the boy might be living in Buster and Stevenson’s home, and with the help of additional investigative work, it was uncovered that he was, in fact, living at the residence.
Police executed a search warrant for inside the home Sept. 11, 2026, and located the boy hiding in a closet. He was taken into custody and issued a juvenile citation. Buster and Stevenson were also taken into custody and charged with felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Buster faces two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two counts of child abuse. Stevenson is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two counts of failing to report child abuse or neglect.
Buster’s adult daughter and her 19-year-old boyfriend, who also reside in the home, were both charged with two misdemeanor counts of failing to report child abuse or neglect.
Las Cruces police wish to remind residents that it is illegal to intentionally harbor a runaway or missing juvenile. Anyone who suspects or knows of someone harboring a runaway is asked to call police at 575-526-0795.
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