Four face kidnapping charges after deputies find Statesville teen in Florida

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Four people are facing kidnapping charges in connection with taking a 15-year-old girl from Statesville to Florida, police said.

According to a news release, Statesville officers were called on March 13 to a house on North Center Street to investigate a report of a 15-year-old girl who ran away from home.

Officers searched the home and areas that the girl was known to visit but could not find her.

Investigators in Statesville worked with the Davie County Department of Social Services to find out that the girl had been taken to a home in Pasco County, Florida by 77-year-old Paul Wayne Thompson, officials said.

Police said Thompson has no family relationship with the girl.

Investigators said other relatives of Thompson’s, who are also not related to the girl, helped her in running away and obstructed police efforts to find her.

On March 17, deputies learned of a home in Florida where the girl might be and when deputies knocked on the door, Thompson answered. After a few questions, police said Thompson admitted that the teen was in the house.

Deputies found the girl inside and arrested Thompson immediately.

Authorities then arranged for the girl to be brought back to Statesville.

Paul Thompson, of Statesville, is in custody in Pasco County, Florida, and will face charges of felony abduction of a child, felony conspiracy to abduct a child, transporting the child out of state and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, a misdemeanor charge. He is awaiting extradition to North Carolina.

Laurie Faye Thompson, 43, and Skyler Patrick Haneline, 24, both of Olin, and Lewis Leslie Lyons, 45, of Statesville, were each charged with felony conspiracy to abduct a child and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and resist/obstruct/delay a law enforcement officer.

A magistrate set bond at $5,000 each.

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