Missing Tennessee Juvenile Located 670 Miles Away in North Carolina; Local Resident Facing Felony Abduction Charges

A 15-year-old Tennessee girl was found 670 miles from home in North Carolina. Tyler James Higgins faces felony abduction charges after her safe recovery.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 7:06 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Charlotte Observer

The Discovery of a Missing Juvenile

The multi-state search for a missing 15-year-old from the Clarksville, Tennessee area reached a resolution Tuesday afternoon in the town of Beaufort, North Carolina. According to a joint statement from the Clarksville Police Department and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, investigators tracked the juvenile to a private residence located approximately 670 miles from her home. Upon entering the premises, deputies discovered the girl, who appeared to be physically unharmed, though she was immediately transported to a local medical facility for a precautionary evaluation. The successful recovery followed a series of digital leads that suggested the minor had been communicating with an individual in North Carolina prior to her disappearance.

Arrest of Tyler James Higgins and Formal Charges

Following the discovery of the juvenile, law enforcement officials arrested the occupant of the residence, 25-year-old Tyler James Higgins. Higgins has been formally charged with felony abduction of a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. According to the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, Higgins is currently being held at the local detention center under a substantial bond. Investigators are working to determine the exact nature of the relationship between Higgins and the juvenile, as well as the methods used to transport the minor across state lines without parental consent.

A Collaborative Multi Agency Effort

The safe recovery of the teenager was the result of close coordination between the FBI, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and local North Carolina authorities. According to Clarksville police, the investigation utilized advanced digital forensics to narrow down the suspect’s location in Beaufort. Law enforcement officials praised the rapid response of the Carteret County deputies, noting that the distance between the two locations presented significant logistical hurdles in the early stages of the search. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of interstate child abductions and the critical role of federal-local partnerships in resolving missing person cases.