Officers tracked the 13-year-old across state lines and arrested two people following a coordinated search.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 13-year-old Georgia girl was found unharmed in a Jacksonville motel after federal agents and local officers tracked her more than 130 miles from the place where authorities said she had been abducted.
The July 16 rescue ended a search that began hours earlier in Baxley, Georgia, where police received a 911 call from a home on James Drive. Investigators said two people entered the residence and took the girl before traveling south into Florida. The child’s name has not been released because she is a minor.
Baxley police said the caller reported that Giovannie Carter, 32, was outside the home holding a knife and banging on the front door. Authorities allege that Carter and Jonathon Kelly, 42, forced their way inside and removed the teenager from the home. Carter is the girl’s biological mother but did not have legal custody of her, police said.
The possibility that the child had been taken across state lines brought several agencies into the investigation. The FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation joined Baxley police and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office as authorities worked to identify the vehicle and locate the teenager. Jacksonville officers later assisted after investigators traced the group to northeast Florida.
Federal agents and Jacksonville deputies found the suspected vehicle at about 5:30 p.m. outside the Scottish Inn on Philips Highway, according to authorities. Officers prepared a coordinated operation involving the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office SWAT team. They entered the motel room at about 9:35 p.m. and found the girl unharmed.
Authorities said Kelly ran from the room as officers arrived and got into a vehicle. Body-camera footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shows a man identified as Kelly briefly holding up his hands before entering the vehicle and attempting to back away. Police vehicles blocked his path.
Kelly then drove forward, nearly struck a SWAT vehicle and crashed into part of the motel, investigators said. He left the vehicle and tried to escape on foot before officers detained him. Carter was also arrested. The sheriff’s office did not release footage from inside the room, citing legal requirements and the child’s privacy.
Carter faces counts that include kidnapping, home invasion and aggravated assault, according to information released by Baxley police. Kelly faces allegations that include kidnapping, home invasion and a probation violation, along with additional counts connected to the Jacksonville response. The accusations have not been proven in court.
Officials have not explained the circumstances under which Carter lost legal rights to the girl. They also have not announced when Carter and Kelly may be transferred between Florida and Georgia or provided a complete account of their pending court proceedings.
The FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation are leading the continuing investigation. Authorities said the teenager is receiving support and other resources following the rescue.
Author note: Last updated July 29, 2026.