Officers recovered the 13-year-old hours after an Amber Alert prompted a search that crossed state lines.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 13-year-old Georgia girl reported abducted from her home was found safe Thursday night at a Jacksonville motel after federal and local officers surrounded a vehicle linked to the case, authorities said.
The recovery ended a daylong search that began in Baxley, Georgia, and moved more than two hours south into Florida. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert, known in Georgia as a Levi’s Call, after Baxley police received a report that the girl had been forcibly taken from a home early Thursday.
Investigators identified the girl’s biological mother, Giavannie Alexis Carter, and Johnathan Kelly as the people suspected of taking her. Baxley police said neither Carter nor Kelly had legal custody of the child. The allegations had not been proven in court as of Sunday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the FBI located a vehicle believed to be connected to the case at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Scottish Inn on Philips Highway, according to local authorities. Officers remained at the motel while investigators prepared to enter the property and recover the child.
Authorities executed a search warrant at about 9:35 p.m. and found the girl safe. Surveillance video from the motel showed more than a dozen officers surrounding an SUV outside a room with their weapons drawn. The vehicle struck part of the motel building as a person inside attempted to flee, according to video reviewed by local news organizations.
A motel worker said heavily equipped officers arrived, surrounded the vehicle and quickly detained a person who tried to run. Witnesses said the main part of the operation unfolded within minutes, though officers remained at the motel afterward as investigators processed the scene.
The property showed visible damage the following day. Windows had been boarded, and part of the motel’s exterior signage was damaged near the area where officers conducted the operation. Authorities did not immediately release an estimate of the damage.
The girl had last been reported at a home on James Drive in Baxley at about 1 a.m. Thursday. Police said they received a 911 call reporting that Carter was outside the home with a knife before she and Kelly allegedly entered and took the child.
The GBI issued the statewide alert at about 2 p.m. Authorities said the girl was believed to be in extreme danger and released information about a gray Jeep Renegade that investigators thought was being used. The alert expanded public awareness of the search as agencies worked to trace the vehicle into Florida.
The case involved coordination among Baxley police, the GBI, the FBI and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Authorities have not released details explaining how investigators identified the motel or whether public tips helped lead officers to the location.
Carter and Kelly face kidnapping and home-invasion charges, according to Jacksonville news reports citing police. Carter also faces an aggravated-assault charge and other alleged offenses, while Kelly faces a probation-violation charge and additional local allegations. Complete court and booking records were not immediately available.
Authorities said the girl was unharmed and was expected to be reunited with her family. The investigation remained active Sunday, and officials had not announced when either suspect would appear in court or whether they would be returned to Georgia.
Author note: Last updated July 19, 2026.