A missing 17-year-old is back in state custody after Avery County deputies tracked her and a wanted 45-year-old man through the woods above a Hardee’s and arrested him at an RV park in Newland on Wednesday, officials said.
According to The Charlotte Observer, deputies went to Big Mike’s Creekside RV Resort after a tip about a wanted person staying there. When they arrived, investigators said they spotted the man with a juvenile who had been entered into law enforcement systems as a missing and endangered runaway. The teen was turned over to state juvenile authorities, and the investigation remains active.
Court records reviewed by The Charlotte Observer indicate the man used social media to contact the 17-year-old despite a protective order that barred him from any contact. The sheriff’s office said canine handlers and drone teams were brought in to help track and locate the pair after they took off on foot.
How deputies tracked the pair
As reported by Queen City News, a local resident called 911 after spotting the wanted man near Big Mike’s Campground, triggering a multi-agency response. Banner Elk police assisted with drone support while Avery County canine teams followed the pair’s trail through brush above the Hardee’s. After a brief foot chase into a wooded area, both the man and the teen were detained, officials said.
Queen City News also reports that the suspect is being held on a six-figure bond.
Charges and legal context
The Avery County Sheriff’s Office, as summarized by The Charlotte Observer, identified the suspect as Joshua John Childers. He is charged with possession of stolen goods, a misdemeanor probation violation, two counts of violating a domestic violence order, felony abduction of a child and felony first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Under North Carolina law, abduction of a child is classified as a Class F felony (see N.C.G.S. § 14-41). First-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is defined in N.C.G.S. 14-190.16. Both charges carry significant prison exposure and can trigger sex-offender registration requirements. Prosecutors will determine the formal filings and scheduling of the next court dates as the case moves forward.
The teen is currently in the custody of the N.C. Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Avery County authorities say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact local law enforcement.
