Vidalia man in custody after Stephens County juvenile goes missing

A Vidalia man is in custody after a Stephens County juvenile went missing Thursday.

According to Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley on Thursday, September 10, around 9:43 a.m. deputies with his office responded to call for service regarding a runaway juvenile.

Upon arrival, deputies met with the parents of a 16-year-old juvenile who was reported missing that morning.

Shirley says deputies were able to determine that the juvenile had arranged through messages online to be picked up from her residence after her parents left for work.

It was determined through these messages that the juvenile may have possibly left in a gray Kia Optima driven by a white male, identified as 32-year-old Vidalia resident Shannon Gault.

Deputies and investigators listed the juvenile as missing and developed promising leads in the case.

According to Shirley after further investigation it was discovered that the juvenile was communicating with the suspect on Facebook Messenger over a period of time.

All available information was entered into GCIC/NCIC, and an Amber Alert was activated via the GBI.

Shirley said that less than an hour after the Amber Alert was issued, investigators received a call that Ashburn Police had located the runaway juvenile and placed the suspect in custody.

After the nationwide lookout was given and other technology utilized, Ashburn Police in Turner County, observed the vehicle and the occupants.

After initiating a stop on the vehicle, both the juvenile and Gault were positively identified.

Shirley says after being notified by the Ashburn Police, Stephens County Investigators made their way down to Ashburn, located in Turner County.

According to Shirley, charges will be procured for the arrest of Gault after interviews are completed with the juvenile and suspect.

The Department of Juvenile Justice has been alerted and are working closely with the Sheriff’s Office.