CALHOUN — A fugitive has been arrested and charged with false imprisonment, battery and aggravated assault among other charges related to a missing person case in Gordon County.
On Jan. 13 Kayla Silvers was reported missing by a family member who told deputies she had last been seen Jan. 11. Detectives initiated a search for the missing woman.
According to Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston, detectives had also acquired information that she had been the victim of an assault on the afternoon of Jan. 10. Detectives believed the assault was perpetrated by Phillip M. Neal Jr.
Acting on this information, deputies and detectives began an intense search in which they discovered Silvers’ automobile at an apartment complex in Calhoun. The car was taken into custody and searched for evidence.
Furthering their investigation, detectives obtained search and arrest warrants for Neal’s person and home at Dews Pond.
Neal was already being sought for violating the terms of his probation for a previous conviction.
Armed with these warrants, at about 4 p.m. Jan. 13, deputies and detectives surrounded Neal’s home. During the search, detectives discovered Neal hiding underneath the mobile home.
According to Ralston, Neal, who was armed with a handgun, revealed that Silvers was underneath the trailer as well. After negotiating with officers for some time, the missing woman was released and removed from the location by waiting deputies.
After 30 to 45 minutes more of negotiations, Neal surrendered his pistol and himself to the Sheriff and deputies.
Neal was subsequently charged with the following: Battery (FVA), Aggravated Assault (2 counts), False Imprisonment, Possession of a Firearm By a Felon, and Possession of a Firearm During theCommission of a Felony. The victim returned to her family. Neal is being held in the county jail pending judicial disposition.
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