VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - A man who lured a minor from her home in Alabama to come to his home in Valdosta has been arrested, according to Valdosta Police (VPD).

On Thursday, Oct. 9, VPD detectives and specialized units went to the home of Scott Daniel Davis, 44, to try to find a runaway from Mobile County, Alabama, according to a VPD release.

Detectives at the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) told VPD that on Monday, Oct. 6, a 13-year-old was seen getting into a vehicle and had not been seen since then.

The teen’s mother told Alabama authorities that the teen was talking with a man on social media who seemed to be misrepresenting his age.

Additionally, witnesses gave detectives in Alabama the description of the vehicle that the teen got in. The release said the vehicle belonged to Davis.

Detectives were able to use the vehicle’s description and the license plate to find Davis’ home, which is on Pine Cone Circle in Valdosta. When detectives arrived at Davis’ home, they saw his vehicle in his driveway.

As authorities checked the residence, Davis and the teen were found in the backyard. Police say her hair had been cut, and the color had been changed.

Davis was taken into custody, and the teen was safely taken by law enforcement.

An investigation found that the teen was communicating with Davis on social media for months. He originally told the teen that he was 15 years old and turned 16 in September. The victim reportedly told police that she believed Davis was 16, and they were in a relationship.

VPD says that after Davis picked the teen up from Mobile, Alabama, they stayed at a hotel in Valdosta on Monday evening. On Tuesday evening, he took her to his home.

Police say that Davis set up a tent in a secluded area in his backyard, where he told the victim she needed to stay during the day. Davis made the teen believe that he lived at the house with his mother, and he would get in trouble if she knew the teen was there.

Davis kept the teen away from all other members of his family. Police say no one at the home knew the teen was at the residence until detectives arrived on Thursday evening and took her from the backyard.

Between the time Davis and the teen arrived in Valdosta and when he was arrested, police say he engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with the teen several times.

He is facing the following charges:

• 2 counts of aggravated child molestation - felony
• Aggravated sexual battery - felony
• Interstate interference with child custody - felony
• Child molestation - felony

Additionally, while searching the residence, several computer hard drives, numerous firearms and other pieces of evidence were found and taken to crime laboratories for analysis. As the evidence is processed, Davis will be facing additional charges.

“This case is extremely disturbing, and our department will be diligent to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. We are committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable for crimes against them.”

VPD detectives have been working closely with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Child Advocacy Center, the Haven, the Department of Family and Children Services and the Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office to provide all possible assistance to the teen, according to VPD.

The teen has been reunited with her mother.

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