FL - Missing 11-year old found bound with duct tape in sex offender's truck - Bunnell, 31 Dec 2025

BUNNELL, Fla. — Following an extensive investigation led by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office MajorCase Unit, additional charges have been added — including kidnapping and child abuse — againstDarnell Hairston, a registered sexual offender who was found travelling in a vehicle with a juvenile whohad been previously reported missing

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. —
A judge on Sunday denied bond for a registered sex offender accused of kidnapping an 11-year-old boy and holding him for several days in Flagler County, authorities said.
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Investigators said Hairston and two juveniles were inside the vehicle.
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Also in the truck was a 15-year-old boy who authorities said fled from deputies during the traffic stop, rammed a patrol vehicle and crashed. He faces multiple charges and is in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Investigators said the teen is being investigated as a possible co-conspirator.
Man accused of kidnapping, torturing 11-year-old denied bond in Flagler County

Darnell Hairston was arrested on the morning of New Year’s Eve and charged with six felonies, including kidnapping, aggravated child abuse, robbery with a firearm, strangulation, depriving the means of protection or communication, and resisting an officer with violence, according to Flagler County Sheriff’s Office records reviewed by PEOPLE
Boy, 11, Vanished from His Home. He Was Allegedly Found in Sex Offender's Car Days Later After Horrific Ordeal

Jesus Christ. The only upside is that they found the poor child alive, thank goodness

Interesting video from local news

Ghostwheel said:

Interesting video from local news

Click to expand...

sounds as if victim is lucky to be alive

Investigators said they learned that the 11-year-old had been kidnapped and feared for his life, but as deputies gathered more information, Hairston tried to flee, though he tripped into the road.

But while deputies were busy catching Hairston, the other juvenile — 15-year-old Junior Bishop from Hastings — got back into the truck and drove off, nearly striking a deputy in the roadway, the sheriff’s office stated.


This reportedly kick-started a chase that eventually ended with Bishop ramming into a deputy’s patrol car, causing both vehicles to crash into the wood line and allowing law enforcement to finally take him into custody.

Hairston now faces charges of kidnapping, battery by strangulation, robbery with a firearm, aggravated child abuse, and resisting arrest over what investigators said he did to the kidnapped boy.