A 12-year-old South Carolina girl who vanished after allegedly being lured online was found the next day inside an Arkansas couple’s home, where investigators say she revealed she had believed she was going to meet a teenage boy.
Brandon Lee Britten, 31, and Sierra Dawn Britten, 28, are now facing multiple felony charges in connection with the disturbing case.
Brandon has been charged with rape, internet stalking of a child and traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor.
Sierra faces charges of accomplice to rape, internet stalking of a child and traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor.
Authorities say the girl disappeared from Spartanburg County, South Carolina, on Sept. 8.
Investigators learned she may have been taken in a black Chevrolet Malibu with Arkansas plates and used license-plate camera technology to trace the vehicle back toward Independence County, Arkansas.
The car was registered to Brandon Britten, according to court documents.
The following day, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office contacted authorities in Arkansas, who went to the Brittens’ home.
Deputies allegedly found the black Malibu parked outside.
After several attempts to contact those inside, Brandon and Sierra eventually came to the door.
Brandon allegedly admitted the missing girl was inside the house and was taken into custody.
Sierra then went back inside and allegedly tried to stop deputies from reaching the child.
Lt. Zach Rawlins said in court documents that Sierra physically blocked his path and had to be removed from the home before officers could continue searching.
Deputies ultimately found the 12-year-old hiding in a back bathroom.
Rawlins said she was standing with her face and hands against the wall and was visibly shaking.
After he identified himself as law enforcement, the girl reportedly thanked him for coming to get her and said she wanted her mother.
The child was taken to a Child Safety Center, where she underwent a forensic interview and medical examination.
During that interview, the girl told investigators she had been communicating online with Brandon and Sierra for about a month.
According to the probable cause affidavit, she believed she was developing a relationship with a 15-year-old boy and understood Sierra to be that boy’s roommate.
Investigators allege that after the girl was brought to the Brittens’ home, Brandon took her into a bedroom and sexually assaulted her.
Rawlins said evidence recovered during a search of the house, along with the child’s medical examination, corroborated portions of her account.
Investigators questioned Sierra the following day.
She allegedly acknowledged that she and Brandon had been communicating with the girl through video chats and that nude images had been exchanged.
According to the affidavit, Sierra initially claimed she believed the girl was 18, then later said she believed she was 14.
The alleged victim was actually 12.
Sierra also allegedly admitted helping plan Brandon’s roughly 11-hour trip from Arkansas to South Carolina around her work schedule so he could use their vehicle to pick up the girl.
Court documents further allege that after the child arrived at their home, Brandon took her into the couple’s bedroom while Sierra slept in their young son’s room.
The girl was reunited with her parents on Sept. 10, two days after she disappeared.
A judge later found probable cause to charge both Brandon and Sierra.
Traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor and internet stalking of a child are Class B felonies under the charges filed in Arkansas, while rape and accomplice to rape are Class Y felonies, the state’s most serious felony classification outside of capital murder.
The Independence County Sheriff’s Department said both defendants were being held on $1 million bond.
