JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville law enforcement is offering a closer look at the dramatic rescue of a 13-year-old girl kidnapped from her Georgia home and brought more than 130 miles to a Jacksonville motel.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released body-worn camera footage Friday showing the SWAT team, alongside the FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, rescuing the girl from the Scottish Inn on Philips Highway on July 16.
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According to JSO, investigators tracked the girl’s location to the Philips Highway motel after she was taken from Georgia by her biological mother, who did not have legal custody of the teen.
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When officers arrived, 42-year-old Jonathon Kelly ran out of the room, jumped into a vehicle and attempted to leave.
“He nearly struck a JSO SWAT vehicle before crashing into the motel,” officials said.
JSO noted it is not releasing footage from inside the room where the girl was found, citing legal and privacy concerns.
Kelly and 32-year-old Giovannie Carter now face multiple charges, including kidnapping and home invasion. The FBI and GBI are leading the investigation.
The teen is now receiving resources and support following the ordeal, according to JSO.
“This is what happens when law enforcement agencies work together — every second matters, and every life matters,” the agency said.