Kaycee Johnson found safe in Prentiss
Published 10:40 am Thursday, July 25, 2024
- Kaycee Johnson had been missing from her home since 6 p.m. July 17.
Missing 14-year-old Kaycee Alexis Johnson has been found and is safe.
The Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department received a call about a missing juvenile on July 17. Deputy Stephen Jones spoke with Anthony and Machelle Johnson at their home on Highway 13 South just outside of Prentiss. Both parties advised Jones that their daughter had run away.
Jones contacted Deputy Chief Frank Riley and completed a missing person report.
The following day, the Johnson family reached out once again and contacted Deputy Stephanie Barnes to report that their daughter was still missing.
Investigator Vernon Dampier met with the Johnson family and was informed of the details including the time and date of disappearance and what the child was wearing the last time they saw her.
He placed Johnson on the National Crime Information Center and posted her on the Jefferson Davis Sheriff Department’s Facebook page.
Dampier took the lead in the investigation and worked closely with both sides of the family trying to locate Johnson.
On July 24, at approximately 8:30 a.m., he received a tip that Johnson might be located at a house on Front Street in Prentiss. He contacted Captain Colby Waldrop with the Prentiss Police Department for assistance.
Prentiss Police Chief Richard Browning also arrived on the scene. Dampier and Waldrop entered the house with the homeowner’s approval and located Johnson hiding in the back bedroom.
Dampier contacted CPS and placed Johnson in DHS custody until further notice.
“After working long hours to locate Kaycee, we are pleased this case was solved and she was found safe and unharmed,” said Dampier.