Update (5-8): The two Sanford men Bottoms was traveling with, 24-year-old Deshawn Dante Townes and 20-year-old Joffrey Lee Cutler, face a series of charges in connection with her disappearance, according to the Associated Press.
Update (5-6): Cassidy Ann Bottoms was found safe in Sanford late Friday, and the man wanted in her disappearance, Joffrey Cutler, 20, was placed into custody, according to WWGP’s Margaret Murchison. The FBI assisted in the investigation, and Winston-Salem authorities were expected to bring Bottoms to her family.
One of two men suspected in the alleged abduction of a 15-year-old Forsyth County girl surrendered himself to Sanford Police this morning, several media outlets are reporting.
The state issued an Amber Alert for Cassidy Ann Bottoms (pictured) at 2 a.m. today after she was reported missing from her home in Winston-Salem. The alert warned Bottoms was traveling with 24-year-old Deshawn Dante Townes and 20-year-old Joffrey Lee Cutler in a silver Nissan Altima. Townes turned himself in to Sanford Police this morning, and according to WRAL, will not face charges.
Bottoms, however, is still missing. She and Cutler were last seen in Sanford.
Bottoms is described as white, 5-feet, 1-inch tall weiging 114 pounds. She has black hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue tube top with a V cut, pink, gray and blue palm tree leggings and black Converse shoes. She also has a scar on her lower left hip. Cutler is described as a black man, about 5-feet, 11-inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue button-up shirt and glasses.
The state has dropped its Amber Alert, despite the fact that Bottoms is still missing. While no specific reason for the drop has been reported, criteria for an Amber Alert includes:
- There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.
- The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
- There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
- The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.
- The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.