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ANEHIEM, Calif. -- Disneyland is known as the happiest place on earth, unless you're the guy who was arrested there Friday for robbing a Utah bank.
It has been a long nine months for Curtis Cordery's parents and family, but they say they're relieved to know their son is alive.
"I just went into tears. It was something we didn't ever know if it would happen in this life. We didn't know if we would ever see him again, and just knowing that he's OK is such a big relief. It's an answer to prayers," said Marilee Cordery, Curtis' mother.
Her son was finally found at Disneyland, of all places, after months of waiting and wondering.
"Before, we didn't know where he was, if he was safe or alive, for that matter. Now we know, we can deal with it and go on from here," said Brad Cordery, Curtis' father.
Curtis was spotted by a patron of the park, a visitor who just happened to be an old neighbor.
"He did the thing that we ask people to do. Instead of confronting Mr. Cordery, he contacted the security detail and police, which made the arrest," said Salt Lake FBI Special Agent in Charge Tim Fuhrman.
Federal authorities had been looking for Cordery since July. He even made the FBI's Most Wanted List. They believe he is the man seen robbing a South Jordan credit union on the credit union's surveillance video.
"This is one of those almost one-in-a-million type cases that you see on TV," Fuhrman said.
Curtis' parents haven't talked to him yet. "We actually got a call from a pay phone from a 714 area code; we missed the call," Marilee said.
They hope to soon, and when they do, Marilee says she wants to let him know how much they still love him. They know he'll have to pay the consequences for what he did, but they say they'll be there to help him through it.
"He'll have to pay the consequences, but we want to help him get through it," Marilee said.
"And he needs to," Brad added. "But he also needs some help, and we want to help him in any way we can."
Cordery was booked into the Anaheim Detention Facility Friday afternoon. It could be a couple weeks before he returns to Utah.
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
