PALATKA, Fla. -- A 15-year-old girl who was the subject of a nationwide search could be reunited with her mother in Putnam County on Monday.

Her 22-year-old boyfriend -- an ex-convict considered a person of interest in the slaying of a 66-year-old man -- will remain in El Paso, Texas, on charges of car theft, interference with custody of a child and panhandling while Putnam County investigators mull additional charges and extradition to Florida.

Morgan Amanda Leppert and Toby Lee Lowry were picked up just after 4 p.m. Saturday after a motorist recognized the couple from a national television report on the Amber Alert.

Officers said Leppert, Lowry and a third person they believe was a hitchhiker from Florida were panhandling just off Interstate 10.

The stolen 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup they were driving was found nearby. The pickup belonged to James Stewart, who was found violently killed in his Melrose home on Thursday.

Putnam County Sheriff Dean Kelly said Leppert is in good shape physically and emotionally. Channel 4 learned Monday morning that she was not arrested and will not be charged with panhandling.

"We'll take care of her and make sure she's cared for until (Putnam County) investigators can give us guidance as to how they want her sent back," El Paso Police Department Darryl Petryl said.

Putnam County investigators had searched for the San Mateo teenager since her mother reported her missing on April 22, but the case was elevated to an Amber Alert when deputies made the connection between her disappearance and the homicide.

Lowry has a lengthy criminal history, with arrests in both Putnam and Clay counties. He was released last summer after serving a 20-month sentence for burglary and criminal mischief.

Deputies received three reports of the stolen vehicle headed west on I-10, the most recent was early Thursday morning near Houston.

The man who spotted the couple Saturday afternoon said he turned around to get a better look at them before he called authorities.

"I was pretty sure I recognized them from the TV show this morning," Stacy Fuller told Channel 4. "I pulled over up a little and got the sheriff's number and explained to him what I'd seen and that I though it was the couple I'd seen on TV."

Putnam County Capt. Keith Riddick said Lowry was being held on existing warrants charging him with grand theft of the vehicle and interference with custody of a child. Lowry is also considered a person of interest in the Stewart homicide case. He's also being charged with panhandling in Texas.

Riddick said Leppert was not charged with panhandling.

By noon Sunday, three Putnam County investigators were in Texas. They interviewed Lowry, Leppert and the other person, whose name was not released.

"The interviews that are about to take place in the next 24 to 48 hours are absolutely critical and, hopefully, will answer all the questions we all have," Kelly said Saturday night.

Putnam County officials said the man picked up with the couple claimed he was just a hitchiker, but he has an outstanding arrest warrant from Marion County, Fla., the next county to the southwest of Putnam.