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Mother of suspect in Centerville assault, kidnapping begs son to turn himself in

Posted at 6:25 PM, May 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-12 23:24:25-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- MaryAnn Harrison says she doesn’t know where her son is, but she says she knows what he’s thinking.

“DJ’s confused right now and he’s scared,” says Harrison as she holds backs tears.

HarrisonsDJ and his father, Flint Harrison, are wanted in connection with an alleged assault and kidnapping. A Utah woman and her four daughters were lured into a basement in Centerville, where the men attacked them.

Harrison says DJ had been experimenting with methamphetamine and believes her ex-husband, Flint, who had used meth in the past, saw an opportunity to get high.

“I think Flint knew he had been using, and I think he came down with the motive of, 'I think I’m going to get high this time,'" Harrison said.

Lt. Von Steenblik with the Centerville Police Department says DJ had thought the victims had turned him in for some reason.

“They’re in a paranoid state, a delusional state," Steenblik said.

Harrison says the victims are close family friends, and she doesn’t believe DJ would ever hurt them if it wasn’t for the drug use and the influence of his father.

In what she described as a state of desperation, she sent a text message to DJ telling him she would hide him.

“I want my son in front of me," she said. "I would say anything in the world to get him in front of me."

DJ never received the text. Police say he left his phone at the scene of the crime. Even though she sent it out of fear, Harrison could be facing obstruction of justice charges.

In the meantime, she has a message for her only son.

“I just want him to go to somebody and turn himself in and be safe," she said. "At least I would know where he’s at."

If caught, DJ could be facing life in prison and Harrison believes it’s his father’s fault.

“As far as Flint goes, he can go straight to hell," Harrison said. "Derek never would’ve done this without his influence."

Police believe the suspects are armed and possibly still high on meth, so if you see them, immediately call police.