A fast-moving Flagler County investigation ended in the safe recovery of a missing 11-year-old child and the arrest of registered sex offender Darnell Hairston, who now faces multiple felony charges including kidnapping and aggravated child abuse.
The investigation began on December 31, 2025, when a caller to the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center reported seeing Hairston traveling with two juveniles in a vehicle. Law enforcement recognized Hairston as a registered sex offender, and the caller knew one of the children had been reported missing in St. Johns County. Deputies quickly responded and initiated a traffic stop.
After separating Hairston from the children, the 11-year-old victim disclosed that he had been kidnapped and feared for his life. He described being taken to a wooded campsite in Flagler Estates, where Hairston choked him until he lost consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, the child said Hairston threatened him with a knife and a firearm, tied him up with shoelaces and an extension cord, and covered his mouth with duct tape. The victim also reported being forced to travel on the floorboard of Hairston’s truck under a blanket to avoid detection.
During the stop, Hairston attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended. Deputies confirmed the child had been reported missing three days earlier and immediately transported him to a hospital for evaluation.
With assistance from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the FCSO Crime Scene Investigations Unit, detectives executed search warrants on Hairston’s vehicle, his residence in Hastings, and the campsite. Investigators recovered duct tape, video surveillance equipment, and weapons consistent with the child’s statements. Extensive interviews with Hairston revealed that he knew the child was missing and endangered but could not provide a valid reason for keeping him from his parents.
On January 2, Flagler County detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Hairston with kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation, and robbery with a deadly weapon. Hairston was already in custody on a $125,000 bond for a prior arrest and is now being held without bond.
The investigation also identified a second juvenile, Junior Bishop, who fled the traffic stop in Hairston’s vehicle. Bishop is currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and faces possible additional charges for kidnapping and grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly praised the rapid response of deputies and detectives, emphasizing the critical role of the public in alerting authorities. “Thanks to a vigilant citizen and our deputies recognizing the immediate danger, we rescued a child who feared Hairston intended to kill him,” Staly said. “This investigation demonstrates the dedication of our team working tirelessly through the night to ensure justice and protect vulnerable children.”
The investigation remains active, and law enforcement continues to pursue all leads to ensure Hairston and any co-conspirators are fully held accountable.
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