Skylar Foster and Phillip Jester were apprehended in Rabun County on December 5 after a two day search.
A state-wide manhunt that began in Butts County in central Georgia Wednesday ended peacefully Friday afternoon in Rabun County.
24-year old Phillip Norman Jester and 14-year old Skylar Foster were captured without incident around 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Mountain City area.
Authorities had been searching for the pair since late Wednesday after Foster disappeared from Jackson, Georgia. A BOLO alert was issued amidst fears she was in danger. Jester is wanted in Delaware on felony charges.
Butts County authorities told reporters Jester came to Georgia after meeting Foster on Facebook and stayed with her family before Thanksgiving. The GBI is now investigating to determine if he kidnapped Foster.
The first big break in the search for the pair came Thursday night after the two were allegedly involved in a gas drive-off at Don’s Exxon in Mountain City. Authorities say the store clerk provided a description of the suspects and their vehicle, as well as their direction of travel. That launched an intense 15-hour long, multi-agency manhunt in northeast Georgia.
Officers found the vehicle abandoned in Mountain City after reports of shots fired in the area. Upon further investigation, it was determined the vehicle had been reported stolen in Newton County.
The next big break came at approximately 10:30 Friday morning when a burglary was reported in the York House Road area. The Rabun County Sheriff’s Office deployed K-9 officers who were able to begin tracking the pair. Additional K9 units from the Georgia Department of Corrections were requested for mutual aid.
Around 1:30 p.m. a Rabun County Sheriff’s Deputy saw the two cross a private road just east of York House Road, then run into a field. Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 were deployed and tracked the pair into the field, where they were taken into custody.
Authorities say Jester had at least two handguns in his possession when he was captured. A rifle and shotgun were also recovered from the scene.
“This investigation is still in the early stages and investigators are trying to put the pieces of this puzzle together that will span several different counties,” Rabun County Sheriff Frank Andrews advises.
Agencies that responded during the incident include the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office; Clayton, Mountain City, Dillard and Sky Valley Police Departments; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Georgia State Patrol; Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division; Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 units; Rabun County 9-1-1 and Rabun County Emergency Medical Services.
Sheriff Andrews says he’s grateful to all the agencies involved. “The exhaustive search was a true joint effort of multiple law enforcement agencies, K-9s and emergency services, with all playing crucial roles in bringing it a successful and safe conclusion. We are fortunate that the female juvenile was recovered unharmed. Our first responders gave it their all for well over fifteen hours.”
In addition to the Delaware charges Jester now faces charges in Rabun and Butts Counties.
