ALPENA – Police say a 3-year-old boy declared missing on Monday has been spotted with his mother, and appears to be unhurt and safe.

Michigan State Police say mother Christina Waterman and son Keegan were spotted Tuesday in Muncie, Ind. The child appeared to be OK, although the child’s welfare couldn’t be confirmed. There’s currently no indication that Keegan is endangered or that any criminal violation has been committed, so the AMBER Alert for Keegan was canceled Wednesday afternoon.

MSP Alpena Post Commander Mike Hahn said police are still looking into the matter and want to confirm that both mother and child are OK.

“We do have some concern over their well-being, and would very much like to speak with the mother, again, to verify both of their well-being,” he said.

Until then, the case is still being treated as a missing person complaint, according to a MSP release. Christina Waterman is described as a white 39-year-old female with blond hair, medium build and five feet, seven inches tall. Keegan is described as a biracial or light-skinned black male child, with dark curly hair and three feet, six inches tall. Christina is in a tan 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe with Tennessee license plate U4758V and may be headed to one of several states including Tennessee, North Carolina or Arizona based on information received.

MSP Sgt. Joe Richards said anyone who believes they’ve seen the two should call 911 immediately to ensure a prompt response. That’s the best way to ensure law enforcers can confirm the sighting.

Alpena resident Cliff LaMay said he’s relieved to hear that both Keegan and Christina Waterman are safe. While LaMay’s paternity has never been established, he claims that Christina considers Keegan his son. LaMay has no legal custody rights to Keegan, but wishes the boy’s mother had done things differently.

Instead, LaMay said he woke up Monday to find that Keegan wasn’t in his apartment. He called the police after looking all through the apartment and finding the back sliding-glass door open but covered with a curtain. He believes Christina took Keegan in the middle of the night, leaving through that door.

“She came in while I was sleeping and took the baby, which she legally could do,” he said. “But I don’t know why she didn’t take him in front of me and leave then, instead of making me panic and think something bad had happened to this child.”

LaMay said Christina Waterman had recently moved back to Alpena and asked him to look after Keegan Thursday. He did, and offered to let Waterman spend the weekend at his apartment so she could be with Keegan. After he asked her to leave Sunday, she eventually agreed. Keegan was asleep on the floor next to LaMay when he fell asleep Sunday, but was gone when he awoke.

Richards said the AMBER Alert was issued out of concern for the well-being of the child. While it wasn’t immediately clear if any laws were broken, Keegan had been missing for some time without any word of his whereabouts. A number of tips had been received, some a day after the suspected sighting, but none had been substantiated – at least until Tuesday, according to later reports.

Angie Waterman Stevens, identifying herself as Christina’s sister on her social network page, said her sister is OK. Stevens called the AMBER Alert ridiculous and said that her sister lawfully removed Keegan from what she thought was a dangerous situation.

LaMay denies that Keegan was ever in danger with him, asking why Christina would ask him to watch over Keegan if she thought her son was at risk.

An attempt to reach Stevens was unsuccessful as of press time.

Now, LaMay said he fears that he’ll never get to see Keegan again. He’s tried to reach Christine since Monday, but with no success, and is considering seeking legal advice.

“I’m just glad to hear that Keegan is safe and that she’s OK, you know, and I hope to see him again soon. And her, both of them,” he said.

Jordan Travis can be reached via email at jtravis@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688. Follow Jordan on Twitter @jt_alpenanews. Read his blog, A Snowball’s Chance, at www.thealpenanews.com.