GUILTY SC - HT, 4, Johns Island, 13 Feb 2018 *Arrest*

[Gardener1850]

So 6 to 7 hours to go from SC to Riverside, AL. Where the heck were they for the other 17 hours??

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Maybe he didn't flee SC with her until the story about her being missing hit the news? IDK. It doesn't seem like he planned this abduction out very well and for that I am thankful because he was seen (soon to be caught hopefully) and H is now safe.

Did anyone catch how they ID'd the suspect? Is the car he is said to be driving his own car or stolen?

 

[borndem]

what does 'lowcountry' mean?

Lowcountry means several things -- geographically, it's a number of counties/areas along the lower SC coast. At one time, rice and indigo were grown there. Rice is still a daily staple in the meals of lowcountry natives -- both wealthy and not well-off. The land is flat, and flooding can occur, but it's not usually serious (thus the rice crops many years ago).
My DH's folks grew up in that area -- some historic towns/homes are down there, as are some very hard-scrabble areas.

 

[Gardener1850]

T was found near Riverside, Alabama, roughly an hour outside Birmingham, near Talladega, authorities confirm.

Birmingham lies along a notorious human trafficking corridor, according to the Birmingham Times.

It is so miraculous she was found safe.

 

[Henry2326]

Riverside, Alabama Mayor Rusty Jessup confirmed to News19 HT of Charleston was found late Wednesday afternoon in his city.*

The Jessup says she was found after there was a report of a suspicious car*in the woods behind Riverside's City Hall. Jessup*says the fire*chief checked it out, and found her kidnapper, now identified as 37-year-old Thomas Lawton Evans,*asleep in the vehicle.

Riverside Police Chief* Rick Oliver was*called to the scene, and there was then a heated exchange*between Evans and the other men.*

At that point, the suspect gave the baby to the police chief, telling them he had to get his ID from the car. Evans*then jumped into the car and sped off, Jessup said.

At this point, his whereabouts are unknown.*

http://www.wltx.com/article/news/lo...-south-carolina-girl-found-safe/101-518644728

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[Steelslady]

I shudder to think what would have happened to this poor darling if that police officer hadn't stopped to check out a different vehicle in that parking lot. God Bless this cop for getting her out of that car before that animal had a chance to take off with her again. So happy for the family that H has been found.

Extra prayers tonight for that poor mother.

 

[Henry2326]

"The mother was hurt. Somehow, though, she managed to come to the door, the police chief said."

https://www.postandcourier.com/news...cle_073e9450-1180-11e8-9239-3fb4ce713812.html



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[Peppery]

How did they identify the man she was with as Thomas Lawton Evans?

 

[24Roses]

https://twitter.com/Andrewabc3340/status/963949235191377920

There's a short video of LE carrying little H to the car to go the hospital at the Twitter link.

Thank you Jesus! This is the best news and video I have seen all day. My prayers have been answered.

 

[Steelslady]

How did they identify the man she was with as Thomas Lawton Evans?

I'm wondering this, too. In the article that was first listed in an Alabama paper, it said he had Illinois license plates. He didn't show them any ID because after he handed H over, he said he was going to get his ID then jumped into the car and took off.

 

[Gardener1850]

HT, 4, was recovered in Riverside, confirmed Pell City Police Chief Paul Irwin. The girl - missing for more than 24 hours - was found about 4 p.m. in a business parking lot on Highway 78 near Depot Street.

Riverside Police Chief Rick Oliver was checking on a vehicle when he noticed a man asleep in a vehicle with a little girl inside the car. The girl wanted out so he got her out, and then the driver woke up and drove away.

The driver fled on Highway 78 toward Pell City. Pell City police got on Interstate 20 and Highway 78 but couldn't not find the fleeing suspect. He was driving a blue sedan with an Illinois tag.

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2018/02/missing_south_carolina_girl_fo.html

Here's a map from the intersection of of HWY 78 and Depot Street to Pell City: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Pel...a490a3167fcab65!2m2!1d-86.2025994!2d33.599769

Since Pell City Police did not find him on I-20 and HWY 78, perhaps he took a back road to try to find another place to lay low? Which way could he have gone?

 

[bestill]

what does 'lowcountry' mean?

Many areas on the SC coast are sea level or close to being below sea level, so there are many wetlands and tidal areas. We refer to it as the "lowcountry". Boggy, swampy and tidal either by the salt water or by the rivers and creeks. We call the upper part of our state the "upstate"...both local expressions.

 

[Steelslady]

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2018/02/missing_south_carolina_girl_fo.html

Here's a map from the intersection of of HWY 78 and Depot Street to Pell City: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Pel...a490a3167fcab65!2m2!1d-86.2025994!2d33.599769

Since Pell City Police did not find him on I-20 and HWY 78, perhaps he took a back road to try to find another place to lay low? Which way could he have gone?

Notice it said "a blue sedan with an Illinois tag". This is why i am wondering how they know it is this Thomas Evans?

 

[Henry2326]

Notice it said "a blue sedan with an Illinois tag". This is why i am wondering how they know it is this Thomas Evans?

Good point....I think more to this story.

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[liltexans]

https://twitter.com/FOX6Hardison/status/963970684773916673

Jonathan Hardison
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Verified account

@FOX6Hardison
3m3 minutes ago
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Riverside Chief: HT is being evaluated at medical facility and her dad is flying in to reunite with her

 

[liltexans]

https://twitter.com/SEisbergWCIV/status/963971526394597376

Scott Eisberg
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Verified account

@SEisbergWCIV
1m1 minute ago
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"She was coloring, eating snacks, drinking chocolate milk. We're just tickled to death that she is OK. She was just fine, we got her here and watching cartoons- she was good"-- Best words you can ever hear from the Alabama sheriff who found HT.

 

[liltexans]

https://twitter.com/BBonTV/status/963971766900183040

Bill Burr
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Verified account

@BBonTV
1m1 minute ago
More Bill Burr Retweeted Scott Eisberg
Fresh information in the HT case. She's safe. And so is her alleged abductor - in the hands of law enforcement. @ABCNews4 #chsnews #sctweetsBill Burr added,

0:24
Scott Eisberg
Verified account

@SEisbergWCIV
And Boom! Thomas Evans has been arrested in Mississippi. Words from the Alabama Sheriff who found him today.
0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
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[PlayingSherlock]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156398793561178&id=75155261177

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[Fairy1]

So very grateful this precious little one has been found safe and hope her Mommy will make a full and speedy recovery.

 

[24Roses]

Notice it said "a blue sedan with an Illinois tag". This is why i am wondering how they know it is this Thomas Evans?

Yes I don't know understand if he was just released from prison (does anyone know what prison) and is supposed to be local to S. Carolina , why he would be driving a car from Illinois and if they didn't see his driver's license how they know it is Thomas Evans. They must of had the license plate number and ran it and it was registered to him, but...?

 

[eldridgecamby]

The picture of Thomas Lawton Evans that I saw was about 8 years old, so I didn't see that as precluding the addition of new tattoos between then and now.

I also think that it wouldn't be beyond reason for someone to hang around a neighborhood and survey which homes they might target and figure out who lives there and the best time to go in for a burglary or theft or other crime.



I really think the eyes and eyebrows are very similar in both images. But, I've also read that the hispanic guy (presumably the one with the tattoos) is no longer someone they want to come forward? Maybe he's already come forward and definitely isn't Lawton Evans. So, yes, it seems the comparisons are unwarranted after all.

That's reasonable. Though, it was also pointed out earlier that the POI wasn't the suspect at large to begin with. Many people seemed to gloss right over it, including media sites who flashed the POI photo intimating that he was the suspect on the loose. That was never actually stated by the police officials.