Florida boy imprisoned behind FALSE WALL in Georgia FOUR years after going missing

• Boy, 13, from Florida, reported missing to child welfare authorities in 2010
• He had gone to father's house in Georgia and he 'refused to give him back'
• He downloaded cellphone app and text mother saying he was being beaten
• Police arrived at scene and found teen hidden behind wall in a linen closet
• Five people, including victim's father and stepmother, arrested by officers
• They are charged with false imprisonment, obstruction and cruelty to child
• Boy is now in the protection of child services; an investigating is ongoing

By Sophie Jane Evans for MailOnline

Published: 10:28 EST, 29 November 2014 | Updated: 11:06 EST, 29 November 2014

A 13-year-old boy who was missing for four years has been found imprisoned behind a false wall in the linen closet of his father's Georgia home, it emerged this morning.

The unidentified teenager reportedly downloaded a cellphone app to text his Florida-based mother to tell her he was being held captive and beaten at the house in Duke Court, Clayton County.

Police arrived at the scene and found the boy hidden behind a false panel in a linen closet in the property's garage. He repeatedly thanked officers for rescuing him, according to reports.

Now, five people in the house, including the victim's father and stepmother, have been arrested and charged with false imprisonment, obstruction and cruelty to a child.

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The boy was reported missing to child welfare authorities in 2010 after he went to visit his father and he refused to return him to his mother, according to WSB-TV.

However, his mother never contacted the police, potentially because she is an immigrant and was unfamiliar with the system, it is said. But after receiving her son's text, she immediately called 911.

Following her call, officers arrived at the property at 2am on Saturday. They reportedly questioned the house's uncooperative occupants for several minutes before locating the victim.

It is unknown what condition the teenager was discovered in, or whether he was taken to hospital.

Sargent Joanne Southerland, of Clayton County Police Department, told the news station: 'We came here to the home and were able to get inside and talk to the people inside.

'After several minutes of denying that the child was here and that there was ever any assault or anything like that, we were able to find him in the linen closet.'

Scene: In the hours before his rescue, the boy reportedly downloaded a cellphone app to text his Florida-based mother to tell her he was being held captive and beaten at the house in Duke Court (pictured), Clayton County

Officer Daniel Day added: 'I just couldn't believe it. We found him, we saw him. To say it was a great feeling is an understatement. He just couldn't thank us enough, he was overjoyed we had found him.'

Police have now requested a search warrant for the property. A spokesman said they still have a lot of unanswered questions, including how the boy was imprisoned for so long without intervention.

The boy, whose legal custody is believed to lie with his mother, is expected to remain under the protection of the Division of Family and Children Services for the next couple of days.

This story is developing.