Police in Georgia are calling a child abuse case “disturbing” after saying a 44-year-old man went to great lengths to lure a child into his home.
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On Thursday, Valdosta police found a 13-year-old girl missing from a home in the 900 block of Pine Cone Circle in Valdosta. The girl was reported missing in Mobile County, Alabama, on Monday after she was seen getting into a vehicle.
“This case is extremely disturbing and our department will be diligent to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. We are committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable for crimes against them,” said Chief Leslie Manahan.
Police said the girl’s mother reported to Alabama authorities that her daughter had been communicating with a man on social media who appeared to misrepresent her age. Witnesses described the vehicle the teen entered, which led detectives to the residence on Pine Cone Circle.
When detectives arrived at the home, they found the suspect vehicle belonging to Scott Daniel Davis, 44, in the driveway. Davis and the teen were discovered in the backyard, where the girl’s appearance had been altered, including changes to her hair color and a cut, police said.
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Investigations revealed that Davis had been communicating with the young girl for months, initially claiming to be 15 years old and then 16. The teen believed she was in a relationship with Davis and claimed that he picked her up in Mobile, Alabama, and took her to Valdosta.
According to VPD, when they first arrived in Valdosta on Monday night, Davis and the victim stayed at a hotel. Then, on Tuesday night, Davis took her home. Davis had a tent set up in a secluded wooded area in his backyard, where he told the victim he needed to stay during the day, police said. Davis led the victim to believe that he lived at the house with his mother and that he would get in trouble if his mother knew the victim was there.
Police said Davis allegedly kept the child hidden from his family, living a double life. Between Monday night and his arrest Thursday, he allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with the 13-year-old boy multiple times.
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Davis was charged with multiple felonies, including two counts of aggravated child abuse, aggravated sexual assault, interstate interference with child custody, and child abuse.
Detectives executed a search warrant at his home and discovered computer hard drives, firearms and other evidence for analysis.
The victim was reunited with his mother and detectives are working with multiple agencies, including the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Children’s Advocacy Center, to assist the victim.
Davis remains in custody at the Lowndes County Jail.