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CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
On or about the date(s) of February 13-14, 2018 in the county of in the
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District of South Carolina , the defendant(s) violated:
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Complainant's signature
Date:
City and state: Charleston, SC Mary Gordon Baker, U.S. Magistrate Judge
Printed name and title
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I, Matthew Rhue, being first duly sworn, hereby depose and state as follows:
LAWTON EVANS JR., with committing violations of Title 18, United States Code (U.S.C.),
Sections 1201 (a) and (g) (Kidnapping involving a person under the age of eighteen), between
the dates of approximately February 13, 2018, and February 14, 2018, in the District of South
2. I am a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and have
been so employed since June 2004. As such, I am vested with the authority to investigate
violations of Federal Law. I am currently assigned to the FBI Columbia Division, Charleston
Resident Agency, and have the responsibility for investigating a myriad of criminal violations
3. This affidavit is intended to show merely that there is sufficient probable cause
for the complaint and does not set forth all of my knowledge about this matter. With regard to
the information contained in the affidavit, I either have personal knowledge of the information or
by law enforcement officers involved in witness interviews and other investigative activities.
4. Based on my training and experience and the facts as set forth in this affidavit,
there is probable cause to believe that THOMAS LAWTON EV ANS JR. has committed
LAWTON EVANS JR. unlawfully kidnapped and abducted ("H.T."), an individual who had not
reached the age of eighteen, and transported her in interstate commerce, specifically transported
6. On February 13, 2018, Victim 1, ("B.T.") dropped off two of her children at
school and returned home to her residence on Johns Island, Charleston, South Carolina. B.T.
reported that she returned home around 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. and had three of her children with her.
As B. T. was entering her home she was attacked from behind by a male who had a knife. The
attacker pushed her into the home and tackled her to the ground. The attacker then physically
assaulted B.T. causing facial fractures and brain bleeding, among other significant injuries.
7. Later in the day of February 13, 2018, the police were notified when no one
picked up the two children that B.T. had dropped off at school that morning. Pursuant to this
B.T.'s home to conduct a welfare check. When officers approached B.T.'s home, they could see
evidence inside the home consistent with a physical assault, such as blood. B.T. met officers at
the door, and officers could see that she had significant facial trauma and markings as if she had
been tied up. Officers then entered the house to clear it and found items consistent with B.T.
being tied up. Officers and first responders were able to locate two of B.T. 's children but were
8. B.T. reported to officers that when she came home a male had come up behind
her and assaulted her, and she told H.T. to run and hide. B.T. reported that she was then
continually assaulted by the male who had come up behind her. B.T. was admitted to the
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9. On February 14, 2018 at 7:29 a.m., investigators learned that an electronic access
device belonging to B.T. was used at a gas station in Greensboro, Georgia. Video surveillance
from the gas station showed a white male wearing a bluet-shirt attempting to use the device. A
car belonging to the white male could not be identified on the video due to the angle of the video
camera, but the video camera did capture the white male's face and features.
10. Throughout February 14, 2018, law enforcement in Charleston, SC, put out
several bulletins that had photos of H.T., indicating that she was missing.
11. On February 14, 2018, Police Chief Rick Oliver, in Riverside, Alabama, received
a call regarding a suspicious vehicle parked near railroad tracks. Chief Oliver located the car, a
blue Chevy Impala with Illinois tags, and approached the car. When he got to the car Chief
Oliver saw a little girl in the car wearing adult sized clothing. He then spoke to the car's driver
and noticed the odor of intoxicants about the driver's person. Chief Oliver then had the driver
get out of the car, and was given an ID by the driver. The ID indicated that the driver was
THOMAS LAWTON EV ANS JR. At that time, Chief Oliver became worried about the welfare
of the child in the car. Chief Oliver got the child out of the car, and when he did so the driver got
back into the car and drove away. Chief Oliver then found out that the child was H.T., who was
12. Video of Chief Oliver and the driver was captured and depicted the driver
wearing a blue shirt. Affiant has reviewed and compared the video from when B.T.'s credit card
was used with the video of THOMAS LAWTON EVANS JR.'s interaction with Chief Oliver.
13. Agents obtained a photo of THOMAS LAWTON EVANS JR. from a law
enforcement database. The photo was reviewed by Chief Oliver who confirmed that the photo
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depicting THOMAS LAWTON EV ANS JR. was the same person he encountered in Riverside,
Alabama.
14. THOMAS LAWTON EVANS JR. is not related to H.T. in any way and does not
CONCLUSION
15. Based on the forgoing, I submit there is probable cause that, from in or about
February 13, 2018, to on or about February 14, 2018, in the District of South Carolina and
elsewhere, THOMAS LAWTON EV ANS JR. unlawfully kidnapped and abducted a person who
had not obtained the age of eighteen and transported that person in interstate commerce,
specifically transported her across state lines, in violation of Title 18, United States Code,
Respectfully submitted,
Matt Rhue
Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Y GORDON BAKER
ATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE