A 26-year-old Union County man was charged with kidnapping three girls who allegedly escaped from a psychiatric facility in Wadesboro.
Investigators arrested Zaire Witherspoon last week after a tip about a missing 13-year-old who may have been with him.
One of the girls is back at the Cornerstone Treatment Facility, a psychiatric facility for children, and the two others were sent to other homes across the state, Wadesboro police said. The girls are not from Anson County and police are still investigating their connection to Witherspoon.
The girls who Witherspoon allegedly kidnapped on Jan. 19 were 13, 16, and 17, court documents stated.
After the tip, Union County deputies put the suspect’s Monroe home under surveillance and followed him to a convenience store and that was when they found the missing 13-year-old in the car. The two have known each other, police said.
“We had some unmarked units, some undercover deputies, sheriffs, that were able to blend into the environment and were able to do some surveillance on the residence and able to follow that vehicle without being detected by Mr. Witherspoon,” said Lt. Matthew Winfrey, Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Witherspoon admitted to taking the three kids, deputies said. He told deputies where to find the others. One was found in Scotland County and the third was located in Robeson County.
Officials with the facility said, in a statement, said the kids hatched an elaborate plan to distract employees before walking out the front door. A staff member outside intervened and alerted other staff inside and they called the police.
Officials said the overnight escape was the first since it opened 17 years ago.
Detectives are investigating what exactly happened at the facility, which is known to authorities.
In the last six years, police responded to the Cornerstone Treatment Facility 106 times, including three calls last year of kids running away.
Channel 9 reached out to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
In an email, a spokesperson wrote the department “does not comment on potential or ongoing investigations.”
Witherspoon is being held in the Anson County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.
Cornerstone Treatment Facility statement:
“Cornerstone Treatment Facility takes works to ensure the safety, respect and dignity of all residents. Last week, the facility experienced its first overnight escape since its inception 17 years ago.
“The incident happened when three juveniles launched an elaborate plan to distract employees while they walked through the front door, as the state requires the facility to be unlocked and residents are able to freely walk outside.
“A staff member located outside immediately intervened and alerted staff inside for assistance, and the Wadesboro Police Department was notified.
“Staff continued to search for the escaped residents until they entered a wooded area that wouldn’t allow the facility’s vehicle to enter. However, all three individuals were found safe and unharmed and returned to appropriate residential treatment facilities.”
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