A pair of Kentucky teenagers was reported to be on the run since Jan. 4. Thirteen-year old Cheyenne Phillips and her boyfriend, eighteen-year old Dalton Hayes, are suspected to have carried out a number of burglaries and car stealing incidents. The two have been trying to elude the police which had been chasing them through Georgia and South Carolina.
At first, Cheyenne's father reported that his daughter had been missing on Jan. 3.
"At that time, we were just searching for her as a missing person," said Kentucky's Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins. "We had no clue that her boyfriend was involved."
More than a week later, the police learned that Cheyenne and her boyfriend Dalton made an illegal entry into a private farm property and went away with a stolen Ford pickup. As they tried to get away, they crashed the vehicle through the fences of the farm and caused damages to the truck that could reach up to $7,000. They were believed to head on to the woods on foot.
"We searched for them in the woods and found a piece of Dalton's clothings," said Chaffins. "They had over an hour head start on us, and we called off the search when it got dark."
Later that night, the pair reportedly stole their second vehicle which was a red 2006 Toyota Tacoma. There were also reports that the pair was seen at a Walmart shop in Manning, South Carolina.
The sheriff said they have no lead yet on where the teens are actually heading.
"I'm not sure they know where they are headed," said Chaffins. "She's 13, he's 18. Obviously he's probably making the decisions in there. We're trying to locate them before they get hurt."
Authorities have made public requests for the two to return home.
Cheyenne and Dalton had been dating for more than three months. According to Tammy Martin, Dalton's mother, she has a close relationship with Cheyenne and had thought her to be nineteen. She learned about her real age when the police began to look for her.
"I texted Cheyenne and said the police are looking for you," said Tammy. "She says 'why,' I said they say you're under aged."
In the early stages of the case, no charges had been filed against Cheyenne because of her age. Hayes, on the other hand, had been wanted for "custodial interference" and other charges. The latest report says that the two are now being charged with Felony Auto Theft.
"At the end of the day, we really just want them home safe and sound," added Chaffins. "It's only getting more serious and more dangerous."
