Georgia Man Arrested After Pretending to Be Teen to Lure 13-Year-Old Alabama Girl Online, Police Say
VALDOSTA, Ga. — A 44-year-old Georgia man is behind bars after authorities say he posed as a 16-year-old on social media to lure a 13-year-old girl from Mobile County, Alabama, to his home in Valdosta. The man, identified as Scott Daniel Davis, was arrested Thursday following a multi-agency search for the missing child.
Police Find Missing Child in Valdosta Backyard
Detectives with the Valdosta Police Department (VPD) said officers located the girl in the backyard of Davis’s home, where he had set up a tent in a wooded area and allegedly told the child to stay hidden during the day.
Investigators said Davis convinced the girl he was 15 and later claimed to have “turned 16 in September.” The victim told police she believed the two were in a relationship.
Authorities say the girl was last seen in Mobile County getting into a vehicle that was later traced to Davis’s driveway in Georgia. When officers arrived, they found Davis and the juvenile outside and took him into custody without incident.
Alleged Grooming and Concealment
Police said the online grooming spanned several months before Davis drove from Georgia to Alabama on October 6 to pick up the girl. The two reportedly stayed at a hotel upon arriving in Valdosta before Davis brought her to his residence the following evening.
Investigators said Davis led a “double life”, keeping the child hidden from his family and neighbors. “He told the victim he lived with his mother and would get in trouble if she knew the girl was there,” authorities said.
Felony Charges Filed
Davis has been charged with:
- Two counts of aggravated child molestation (felony)
- Aggravated sexual battery (felony)
- Child molestation (felony)
- Interstate interference with child custody (felony)
He is being held at the Lowndes County Jail without bond. Police said additional charges may follow after evidence from his home and digital devices is processed.
Victim Reunited With Family
The 13-year-old has since been reunited with her mother, according to authorities. Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan described the case as “extremely disturbing,” emphasizing the department’s dedication to child protection.
“We are committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable for crimes against them,” Chief Manahan said.
Law enforcement officials have urged parents to monitor their children’s online interactions and remain vigilant about potential online grooming behaviors.
Readers can follow case updates and community safety alerts at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
