Sex Offender faces new charges after 11-year-old kidnapped, strangled at Flagler campsite
A registered sex offender faces more charges after Flagler County detectives say he strangled an 11-year-old boy, tied him up and forced him to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana at a campground for three days.
When Flagler County deputies rescued 60-year-old Darnell Hairston from U.S. 1 on New Year’s Eve, St. Found missing 11-year-old boy from St. Johns County.
Authorities received a tip that Hairston, a known sex offender, had been seen with two teenagers.
During the traffic stop, the 11-year-old boy told deputies that he had been kidnapped and that he believed Hairston was going to kill him. As deputies attempted to arrest Hairston, body camera video shows Hairston running and trying to grab a deputy’s gun, which was then seized by deputies.
While deputies were making the arrest, deputies say 15-year-old Junior Bishop fled in Hairston’s truck and nearly hit a deputy. Bishop then fell in with an auxiliary cruiser.
A newly released arrest affidavit states the 11-year-old victim was in a Snapchat group chat with Junior Bishop. The report states that the victim told Bishop about the sexual assault on her friend, and Sheriff Rick Staly said Darnell Hairston may have been involved.
“Hairston thought this individual had information that could get him in jail. And that resulted in him and 15-year-old Junior Bishop hatching a conspiracy to lure this 11-year-old boy to a rural area of Flagler County,” Staly told Channel 9.
The victim met Bishop near Fredrick Street and East Deep Creek Boulevard and then drove to a nearby wooded area, the report states. The victim said he saw blankets, pillows, beer, camping chairs and a large kitchen knife there. The report says “Darnell” [Hairston] “He then came up behind the victim and strangled her until she was unable to make a sound or breathe and quickly passed out.”
The victim said when he woke up, they had taped his mouth and tied it with shoelaces and extension cords. The report states that he was fueled by alcohol and marijuana.
The victim told investigators that when they left the campsite, he had to travel with a blanket on the entire time.
Hairston told investigators the 11-year-old boy was in St. Louis, the report said. He reportedly said he knew she was missing in St. Johns County, but could not tell investigators why he did not tell the victim’s family. Hairston claimed to investigators that he just wanted to go fishing with the victim.
Hairston’s victim, St. He is known to have repaired ATVs in the St. Johns County area. Deputies are now thanking the caller who reported seeing Hairston, a known sex offender, with two children.
“He potentially saved this kid’s life and it’s pretty amazing. This will tell you when you see something, so literally call him, say something,” Chief Deputy Joe Barile said.
“Based on the information my detectives and I were given about this case, I think we all believed he was going to die that night. Our victim felt the same way. He was really scared,” said Sheriff Rick Staly.
On Friday, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Hairston, charging him with kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation and robbery with a deadly weapon. Detectives served the warrant at Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where Hairston was currently being held on $125,000 bail for a prior arrest. He is currently being held without bail.
Bishop is currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. Sheriff Staly said Bishop may face additional charges but has not cooperated with the investigation.
Click here To download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And Click here To broadcast Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
