Amber Alert Sparks SWAT Motel Raid

A 13-year-old girl kidnapped from her Georgia home was found safe at a Florida motel after her own mother allegedly took her across state lines without legal custody.

Quick Take

SWAT officers rescued the girl from a motel on Philips Highway in Jacksonville, Florida.
Police say she was taken from Baxley, Georgia, and driven more than 130 miles to Florida.
Officials say her mother, who did not have legal custody, and a man are now in custody.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) issued an Amber Alert before she was found.
Body camera video released days later shows the tense moments of the rescue.

Girl Taken From Small Georgia Town

The case began Thursday morning in Baxley, Georgia, a small town just north of Waycross. The girl went missing from her home, prompting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to issue an Amber Alert, known in Georgia as Levi’s Call. Investigators quickly worked to trace her location as the search stretched across state lines into Florida.

Multi-Agency Search Leads to Jacksonville Motel

Federal, state, and local law enforcement teams joined the search once leads pointed toward Jacksonville. Investigators tracked the girl to a motel on Philips Highway, more than 130 miles from her Georgia home. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said its SWAT team and partner agencies moved in to secure the scene and bring the teenager to safety.

The rescue happened late Thursday night at a motel identified by local reporters as the Scottish Inn. Officers surrounded the building before making entry, ending hours of uncertainty for the girl’s family back in Georgia. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation later confirmed she was safe and would be reunited with relatives.

Two People Taken Into Custody

Deputies arrested two people connected to the case after the rescue. Officials say one suspect tried to flee the scene and nearly struck a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office vehicle before being caught. Authorities identified one of those detained as the girl’s mother, who they say does not have legal custody of the teen.

Jacksonville police have not released full details on the exact charges each suspect faces. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the operation ended with the girl found safe inside the motel room, though the agency withheld some interior footage to protect her privacy during the ongoing legal process.

Body Camera Footage Shows the Rescue

More than a week later, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released body-worn camera footage showing the SWAT team’s approach and the moment officers found the girl. The video gives the public a rare, direct look at how quickly local and state agencies coordinated once the Amber Alert went out.

Cases like this one highlight how fast an Amber Alert can move once agencies share information across state lines. It also shows how much of the public record initially comes from police statements before court documents and formal charges become available, leaving some questions about custody history and the full timeline still open.

What Happens Next

The girl is expected to return home to Georgia after medical checks and interviews with investigators. Court proceedings for the two adults in custody will determine what charges they ultimately face, including any related to custodial interference or kidnapping under Florida and Georgia law. Neither state has released a hearing date yet.

Stories like this remind many Americans that child safety cases often expose gaps in how custody disputes are tracked between states. For families watching this unfold, the quick multi-agency response stands out as one of the clearer wins for law enforcement cooperation this year, regardless of political divides over other issues.

🚨 BEHIND THE BADGE: KIDNAPPING RESCUE

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office SWAT team rescued a 13-year-old girl kidnapped from Georgia and found in a local motel. Incredible footage released yesterday shows the precision and bravery of our officers in action.

Safe and sound.…

— ArrestsSfl | Florida Crime Watch (@ArrestsSfl) July 26, 2026