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Endangered Missing: 5‑Year‑Old From Bountiful, Utah, Believed Taken by Non‑Custodial Father to Avoid Scheduled Surgery

09:17 PM, 12/05/2025
Endangered Missing: 5‑Year‑Old From Bountiful, Utah, Believed Taken by Non‑Custodial Father to Avoid Scheduled Surgery

What happened: On Dec. 2, during a scheduled visitation in Bountiful, Utah, 45‑year‑old Benjamin Despain picked up his 5‑year‑old son James and later emailed the child’s mother saying he had taken him "away" to avoid a scheduled adenoid surgery.

Current status: Authorities have issued an Endangered Missing advisory and are investigating possible out‑of‑state travel, including leads to Montana, Idaho and an "out east" trip. An ex‑parte protective order was obtained but has not been served.

How to help: Anyone with information should call Detective Williams at (801) 631‑9357, case B25‑21141.

Endangered Missing Advisory Issued After Father, Son Vanish During Visitation

Authorities in Bountiful, Utah, are searching for 45‑year‑old Benjamin Despain and his 5‑year‑old son, James, after the pair failed to return from a scheduled Tuesday visitation on Dec. 2. James lives with his mother, Natalie, who has sole physical and legal custody. She arrived to pick up her son three hours after the visit began and found neither James nor Benjamin at his residence.

According to local reports, after picking up James at about 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2, Benjamin emailed Natalie saying he had taken the boy "away" because he did not want James to undergo a planned adenoid removal on Dec. 4. Natalie told reporters that Benjamin has a history of domestic violence and mental‑health challenges and that he has a mandatory three‑hour visit each Tuesday.

Bountiful Police are investigating multiple leads. Lt. Andrew Smith told reporters officers are checking whether the pair traveled out of state, including to family locations in Montana or Idaho, and pursuing a previously mentioned plan to go "out east" to visit sites tied to Latter‑day Saint history. Police say they have not confirmed that Benjamin left Utah, and while James' mother is worried about Benjamin's mental state, investigators have stated they do not currently have evidence that proves the child is in immediate physical danger.

One day after the disappearance, authorities obtained an ex‑parte protective order against Benjamin, but officers have not been able to serve it because his whereabouts remain unknown.

Descriptions and Vehicle

  • Child: James — approximately 3 ft. 11 in., about 47 lbs., blonde hair. Last seen wearing a gray shirt with an astronaut/rocket design and green pants.
  • Father: Benjamin Despain — approximately 6 ft., about 185 lbs., brown hair, hazel eyes.
  • Vehicle: Red 2006 Toyota Tacoma, Utah plate 255PCJ, believed to be towing a white trailer with plate 017531Z.

Anyone with information about James or Benjamin is asked to contact Detective Williams at the Bountiful Police Department at (801) 631‑9357 and reference case number B25‑21141. If you are experiencing domestic violence or need resources, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1‑800‑799‑7233 or visit thehotline.org. All calls to the hotline are free and confidential and the service is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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