Both children were located safely Wednesday morning after an overnight search on the city’s north side, police said.
MILWAUKEE — A 4-year-old boy reported critically missing Tuesday night and his 12-year-old sister, who police earlier said might be armed and wanted, were found safe Wednesday morning in Milwaukee following a citywide alert and hours of searching, authorities said.
Police identified the children as Nevin M. Powell, 4, and his sister, Sanuya M. Wooten-Powell, 12. The case drew rapid attention overnight after officers asked for public help, sharing names, ages and last-known locations on the north side. By late morning Wednesday, the department said both had been located and were safe. Officials did not immediately release where the two were found, whether any weapon was recovered, or what led investigators to the pair.
According to police, the children were last seen walking southbound near North 5th Street and West Hadley Street on Tuesday night, Dec. 2. Investigators said Nevin had last been in contact with his guardian that evening. In initial bulletins, officers warned that the older sibling was wanted by police and might be armed. After the alert circulated, local media shared photos released by authorities and, at one point, a possible vehicle description of a silver or light-blue Hyundai Santa Fe with no license plate connected to the search. “Both children have been safely located,” the department said Wednesday, offering no additional details.
The North 5th Street corridor, just west of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, saw increased patrols overnight as officers canvassed blocks between Hadley and nearby residential streets. Neighbors reported squad cars passing repeatedly and officers talking with residents on porches and in apartment lobbies. Reporters at several outlets cited police updates naming Powell and Wooten-Powell and describing the circumstances as a critical missing case. Officials did not say why the 12-year-old was wanted or provide any information about potential charges. It remains unknown whether anyone else was involved.
Records show the intersection of North 5th and Hadley sits within a dense cluster of duplexes and small apartment buildings where missing-child alerts often prompt door-to-door checks. Past cases in Milwaukee have moved quickly from missing reports to safe recoveries once descriptions and images circulate across television and social media. In this search, the names and ages were shared within hours, along with a direction of travel and, later, a potential vehicle to watch for, helping focus tips.
Police said the investigation continues. Officials have not announced arrests or charges tied to the earlier “wanted” notice for the sister. Any further statements about custody or possible weapons are expected from detectives assigned to the case. Authorities typically release brief incident summaries later the same day, followed by fuller reports once interviews and evidence reviews are complete. If court action follows, initial appearances would likely be scheduled in Milwaukee County Circuit Court as early as later this week.
On North 5th Street midday Wednesday, residents described a tense night that eased with the morning update. “We woke up and saw they were safe. That’s all that mattered,” said Angela Ruiz, who lives near Hadley Street. A store clerk two blocks south said officers came in after dawn to ask if anyone matching the siblings’ descriptions had been seen. “Everybody had their eyes open,” the clerk said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police said both children were safe and with authorities while follow-up interviews were underway. Investigators said additional information would be released as it becomes available.
Author note: Last updated December 3, 2025.