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El Paso County Missing Children Case Is A Mystery

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- El Paso County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the disappearance of two children who may have gone missing as early as 2001.

In January, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office took a report of a suspicious incident involving the alleged disappearance of a child, Austin Bryant. He had last been seen sometime between 2003 and 2005. In 2003, Austin would have been 7 years old.

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Edward & Austin Bryant (credit: El Paso Co. Sheriff's Office)

During the investigation, detectives found that another child, Edward Bryant, was also unaccounted for. He is believed to have gone missing as early as 2001 when he would have been 9 years old.

Austin would be 15 years old today. Edward would be 18 years old. They are the adoptive children of Edward Bryant, 58, and Linda Bryant, 54, of Texas.

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Edward Bryant (credit: El Paso Co. Sheriff's Office)

The Bryants lived in a home located in the 18000 block Granite Circle from 1999 to 2005 in the Monument area near Colorado Springs.

When asked if Colorado investigators believe the boys are still alive, El Paso County sheriff's Lt. Lari Sevene said, "We are considering every possibility at this time."

Sheriff's officials traveled to Texas to arrest the Bryants, who were living separately, Sevene said. Authorities found Linda Bryant in the Gainesville area and Edward Bryant in the Denton area, she said.

Linda and Edward were arrested in Texas for receiving money from the El Paso County Department of Human Services, despite the fact that Austin and Edward were not residing with them. The couple has been extradited back to Colorado and are in custody at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. They are being held on a $1 million bond.

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Linda Bryant (credit: El Paso Co. Sheriff's Office)

Linda and Edward face several charges including felony theft, conspiracy, and forgery.

Deputies will canvass the neighborhood and interview neighbors about the missing children.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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