Betty Sue Taylor, a 12-year-old girl who was last seen March 20 in Safford, Arizona, was found safe in South Carolina on Wednesday.
Betty’s father, Justin Taylor, reported her missing to the Graham County Sheriff’s Office when she did not return home from a walk she was meant to go. hand, Flyer Seek public help on social media.
Betty was also listed as a missing person in the Arizona and National Crime Information Center databases.
On Tuesday, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office discovered information related to a case leading to the identity of 23-year-old Timothy M. Schulteis of South Carolina, the office said in a news release.
Schultheis was located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and was assisted by the FBI in Arizona, New Mexico, and South Carolina, officials said.
The Graham County Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for kidnapping and obstructing detention based on facts law enforcement knew at the time, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office has not released any details about the circumstances leading up to Betty’s disappearance or the relationship between Schultheis and Betty.
The FBI and local law enforcement arrested Schultheis on Wednesday. The sheriff’s office said he was being held in a South Carolina facility awaiting extradition to Arizona.
Officials say Betty was found with him. Her parents were notified and arrangements were being made to reunite her with her family, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation is continuing.
Contact breaking news reporter Angela Cordova Perez. Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on twitter @AngelaCordobaP.
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