Mindy McCready and Son Found by Police in Arkansas

Dec. 3, 2011 — -- Police overnight tracked down country singer Mindy McCready and her 5-year-old son after she defied a court order to return him to his grandmother.

Around 8 p.m. Friday, police took her son, Zander, from his mother at a lake home owned by McCready's boyfriend in Heber Springs, Arkansas, according to the Cleburne County Sheriff.

Zander is on his way to his legal guardian, his grandmother, in Florida.

Authorities said the boyfriend was talking to police while the multi-platinum-selling recording artist was hiding in a closet with her son.

There was no struggle, but they said McCready was quite emotional.

Child welfare officials said Zander is safe and in good health.

He never really was in any danger, but the FBI circulated flyers, called it a "parental abduction," and declared Zander "missing," last seen in a Ford Explorer outside the home of McCready's father.

It appeared that Florida officials may have known McCready's location all along, because police arrived at the home with a signed warrant from an Arkansas court.

After the singer's many troubles, including a stint on celebrity rehab for a serious drug problem, the court gave custody of her son to McCready's mother.

Last night, Gayle Inge, Zander's grandmother and McCready's mother, broke into tears over the situation.

"I can't even explain it, I just can't explain it," Inge said.

McCready has spent the past few years turning her life around, and she's been fighting for custody of her son.

"The focus in custody cases is what's in the best interest of the child. If she wants to go to court, and she wants to say, you know what, I'd like this court order lifted and I wanna change the nature of this custody arrangement, great, go do that. But you can't just go in there, grab the child and evade authorities," said ABC News legal analyst Dan Abrams.

The court had ordered her to return the boy Thursday evening, but through her representatives, she told authorities she's seven months pregnant with twins and in no condition to travel.

The babies' father is believed to be McCready's music producer boyfriend David Wilson, according to the New York Daily News.

So far, no criminal charges have been filed against McCready for taking her son from his legal guardian.

On McCready's facebook page, her fans were divided.

"Mindy, I know the desperation that you are feeling The bond between a mother & child is unbreakable but honey your going about it the wrong way," one fan wrote.

"Stand your ground! He is YOUR child....rooting for you in Alva, FL," wrote another.

Custody Battle Over McCready's Son

McCready has been involved in a messy custody battle over the boy with Inge and her ex. Zander lived in Cape Coral, Fla., with his grandmother, who has legal custody of him. He is allowed to stay with his father on occasion, but can only see McCready on supervised visits.

"Zander is used to being in Florida with me and her mother. I'm worried about him being moved around," McKnight told HLN Thursday.

In a statement Wednesday, McCready's spokeswoman told ABC News that the singer is keeping the boy out of concern for his safety.

"Since at least January 2011, Ms. McCready has been desperately advising the court, and others involved in the Ft. Myers, Florida proceedings, that Zander is in danger, both physically and emotionally, at Inge's home. As a direct result of being a mother (not an actress, not a singer), Ms. McCready took action to ensure her son's safety," the singer's spokeswoman Kat Atwood said.

Inge has denied the abuse allegations.

At some point during a visit on Tuesday, McCready took Zander and fled to Nashville.

Seals ordered McCready to return to Lee County, Fla., by 5 p.m. Thursday, but the singer made it clear that she had no intention of doing that.