Adoption offers a chance at a better life. When parents deem themselves unfit to raise a child, they can put their son or daughter up for adoption and rest them in the hands of more capable parents. It also provides couples that cannot have a child of their own to share in the wonders of childrearing. It’s a beautiful alternative that often ends happily for all parties involved. However, there are instances when the rules of adoption are broken and tragedy strikes.

An Ohio couple is in hiding after a warrant was issued for their arrest for trying to return their 9-year-old adopted son to child services, the Daily News reports. The Butler County sheriffs department has been searching for Cleveland Cox, 49, and his wife Lisa, 52, for three days, but continue to come up empty handed.

Prosecutors report that the couple allegedly dropped off their son at Butler County Children Services last month, claiming that he had become too aggressive and they opted not to be his parents any longer.

“It was like giving a puppy back,” said Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones on Friday. “They took him back to who they thought was the rightful owner. Sad but true.”

Although the parents had raised the child since he was 3-months-old, they simply decided it was time to give him up. They were through and they wanted a new one, but unfortunately for Cleveland and Lisa Cox, that’s not how adoption works.

“Children that are adopted do not come with ‘return to sender’ stamped on their forehead,” Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser told Journal-News. “There’s no difference between an adoptive parents and a natural parent when the adoption is final. That’s it.”

A report cites that the child threatened to kill everyone in the house with a knife back in August, but that’s the parents duty to handle. They can’t roll over and give up. They need to stay diligent, caring and supportive.

If charged, the couple could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Additional charges could also be brought upon them for failing to turn themselves in, as the warrant was issued on Wednesday.