A 10-year-old girl was taken from her home in Newbern, Tennessee, early Wednesday morning before managing to escape and get help from a nearby neighbor, authorities said.
Investigators later arrested 30-year-old Steven Devonte Harris of Newbern in connection with the incident. He faces two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and attempted rape of a child. The charges are allegations, and Harris is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
According to investigators, the incident happened at a home near East Johnson Street during the early morning hours of Sept. 23. The girl was forcibly taken from the residence and later managed to break free from the person who had abducted her.
The child’s mother, Crystal Brown, told local media that the suspect allegedly entered the home by removing an air-conditioning unit from her daughter’s bedroom window. The girl was then taken outside toward a wooded area.
Authorities have not publicly released every detail of what happened in the woods, but investigators said the child was threatened and assaulted during the abduction. She eventually escaped and ran toward a nearby residence seeking help.
A neighbor told local television station WBBJ that she heard loud noises and screaming at about 12:50 a.m. and saw the girl running toward her aunt’s home. The girl’s aunt reportedly came outside carrying a spiked bat, after which the suspect fled the area.
The child was later taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
DNA Evidence Led Investigators to Suspect
The investigation quickly expanded to multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Newbern Police Department, Dyer County Sheriff’s Office and FBI task force members.
Investigators collected physical evidence from the area where the girl was reportedly taken. The evidence was submitted to the TBI Crime Lab for testing, including Rapid DNA processing.
According to the TBI, the DNA results produced information that led investigators to Harris. He was arrested Wednesday night, only hours after the initial investigation began.
The case also developed from information provided by the child after she reached safety. Authorities said evidence gathered during the investigation helped corroborate information they had about the suspected abductor.
Investigation Continues
The early investigation began with authorities searching for an unknown man after the child reported being forcibly taken from her home. Residents had initially been asked to check doorbell cameras and other surveillance footage from the area for possible evidence.
Harris was booked into the Dyer County Jail following his arrest.
The charges against him include two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and attempted rape of a child, according to the TBI.
Because the case remains pending, the allegations have not been established as facts in court. Harris is entitled to due process and is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted.
