Child abduction a hoax

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The reporting of a child abduction last week that resulted in the issuing of a statewide Levi’s Call and Amber Alert has been determined to be a hoax.

The mother of the eight-month-old female, Vanessa Persall of Ellijay, was arrested Wednesday, June 20, and charged with one count of contributing to the deprivation of a minor and one count of felony false statement to a law enforcement officer.

According to Det. Lane Bennett of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department’s Crim-inal Investigation Division, after Jeremy Blackwell was arrested last Tuesday morning, June 19 and initially charged with DUI and endangering a child, having an open container, and not using a child restraint, investigators interviewed him and uncovered information that the mother had left the child alone.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the mother had left the child on other occasions with people she did not know very well. When Persall was interviewed again, she changed her story regarding what happened to the child. She was then arrested.

The Gilmer County Department of Family and Children’s Services is also conducting an investigation, and the eight-month-old and another two-year-old child have been placed in the custody of grandparents.

The district attorney’s office will review the facts and circumstances of the case and determine with what Blackwell should be charged.

Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson said, “I am pleased with the outcome of this case. G.B.I. Special Agent Dustin Hamby and Det. Bennett did a fine job of detective work, and Dep. Ray Walker is to be commended for spotting the vehicle with the child in it.”