She Was Found At An Arkansas Home: 12-Year-Old Vanished
A 12-Year-Old Vanished In South Carolina. She Was Found At An Arkansas Home.
On September 8, 2026, at around 5:47 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a missing 12-year-old girl in Woodruff, South Carolina, after she was last seen around 4 p.m. near Arnold Road and Highway 101.
Investigators said surveillance footage showed the girl walking along Highway 101 before getting into a dark-colored Chevrolet Malibu shortly before 4:30 p.m.
Authorities initially believed she may have run away.
As investigators reviewed surveillance footage, interviewed witnesses and canvassed businesses in the area, they learned the girl had allegedly been communicating online with an adult.
Authorities said investigators eventually determined she had been groomed through social media before her disappearance.
Investigators were still working to determine how long the communication had been taking place.
Authorities identified the Chevrolet Malibu seen in the surveillance footage and obtained its license plate information.
License-plate reader cameras later detected the vehicle traveling across state lines.
Authorities said the vehicle was detected twice in Alabama before another camera detected it in Arkansas the following afternoon.
Investigators connected the vehicle to 31-year-old Brandon Lee Britten and contacted authorities in Arkansas.
Deputies were directed to a residence in the Batesville, Arkansas, area connected to the vehicle.
On September 9, 2026, the 12-year-old girl was found safe at the residence.
Brandon Britten and 28-year-old Sierra Dawn Britten were taken into custody.
Authorities obtained a South Carolina warrant charging Brandon Britten with kidnapping.
Investigators said Brandon Britten and the girl had met online before her disappearance.
After the child was recovered, she was taken to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Independence County for a forensic interview and additional services.
She was later taken to the Arkansas Sheriff’s Youth Ranch while arrangements were made for her family to travel to Arkansas.
On September 10, 2026, the girl was reunited with her parents.
Brandon and Sierra Britten remained in custody as investigators in Arkansas and South Carolina continued working on the case.
On September 11, 2026, a circuit court judge set bond at $1 million each for Brandon and Sierra Britten.
Authorities said additional formal charges against the couple were pending.
Investigators in Arkansas are also working with the FBI as authorities pursue a federal indictment.
The investigation remains ongoing.
