Divorced mother, 40, who vanished with her sons on vacation two weeks ago is found with the boys in Georgia rental home and charged for skipping the state with them

  • Michalene Melges, 40, was located on Tuesday at a vacation rental home in Savannah, Georgia, with her three sons 
  • Police in the family's home of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, asked for the public's help in locating the family this week 
  • Melges and her three sons - ages 10 to 14 - hadn't been seen since May 10, when they took off for a last-minute vacation 
  • Concerns were raised when the boys did not return to school last week
  • Melges had recently divorced the boys' father, Hans Erik Melges 
  • She has now been charged with interference with child custody, disorderly conduct and contributing to truancy

By Ashley Collman For Dailymail.com

Published: 12:13 EST, 24 May 2016 | Updated: 19:43 EST, 24 May 2016

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin police have called off the search for Michalene Melges, 40, and her three adolescent sons. The police asked for the public's help in fiding the family this week

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin police have called off the search for Michalene Melges, 40, and her three adolescent sons. The police asked for the public's help in fiding the family this week

The search for a missing Wisconsin mother and her three sons was called off on Tuesday, after police received a tip and located the family in Georgia. 

Hours after Michalene Melges, 40, and her three sons, ages 10 to 14, were found at a vacation rental in Savannah, Georgia, authorities hit the real estate agent with several charges. 

The charges filed against her on Tuesday were a felony count of interference with child custody in addition to misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and contributing to truancy.

'She is cooperative but limited in her responses to police,' Lt. Ed Gritzner of the Lake Geneva police told the Chicago Tribune. 'She's given us no rhyme or reason as to why she was in Savannah, Georgia.' 

'Much like ourselves, there's a relief that the boys are OK,' Gritzner added. 'There may be some things to sort out in family court, but that will come later.'

Family members are currently arranging a way to travel down to Georgia and collect the boys - 10-year-old Maverik 'Buddy' Melges, 12-year-old Kristian 'Max' Melges and 14-year-old Hans Melges.

Melges pulled her three boys out of school earlier this month, saying they were going on a last-minute vacation from May 10 to May 13.

Concerns were raised when the boys did not return to school last week, and when they missed three visitations with their father, who Melges recently divorced.

Police previously said it did not appear Melges was keeping her sons from their father, Hans Erik Melges, but the new charges suggest that she was indeed. 

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Hans Melges, 14
Maverik 'Buddy Melges, 10
Kristian 'Max' Melges, 12

Melges and her sons Hans, 14 (left); Buddy, 10 (center); and Max, 12 (right); were found Tuesday at a vacation rental in Savannah, Georgia

The family are believed to have absconded from Wisconsin with their two dogs, a black Labrador named King and a King Charles spaniel named Gigi or Geneva  

The family are believed to have absconded from Wisconsin with their two dogs, a black Labrador named King and a King Charles spaniel named Gigi or Geneva  

Melges rented a minivan from Lake Bluff, Illinois on May 9. The car was returned on May 13 by another person in Plano, Texas. The family ceased use of their phones and credit cards after leaving Wisconsin

Melges rented a minivan from Lake Bluff, Illinois on May 9. The car was returned on May 13 by another person in Plano, Texas. The family ceased use of their phones and credit cards after leaving Wisconsin

Melges recently divorced the father of her three sons, Hanks Erik Melges (the former couple pictured together above). She now faces a felony charge for interfering with child custody 

Melges recently divorced the father of her three sons, Hanks Erik Melges (the former couple pictured together above). She now faces a felony charge for interfering with child custody 

Before being located in Georgia, Melges and her sons were last seen leaving their upscale Lake Geneva home on May 10. 

The day before, Melges rented a minivan in Lake Bluff, Illinois. It was dropped off by another person in Plano, Texas - more than 930 miles away - on May 13, mystifying family, friends and police. 

Adding to fears was the fact that Melges and her brood didn't use their phones after leaving Wisconsin, or use any debit or credit cards. 

It's unclear what she was doing in Georgia. 

Melges works as a real estate agent in Lake Geneva. Her ex-husband's father is famed sailor Buddy Melges Jr, an Olympic gold- and bronze-medal winner.  

Authorities say the mother was been cooperative but has not given any reason for why she and the boys were in Savannah. Above, a picture of the three boys with their parents on a whitewater rafting trip  

Authorities say the mother was been cooperative but has not given any reason for why she and the boys were in Savannah. Above, a picture of the three boys with their parents on a whitewater rafting trip  

Above, the Lake Geneva home where the mom and her three sons were last seen leaving on May 10 

Above, the Lake Geneva home where the mom and her three sons were last seen leaving on May 10 

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