Raeford, N.C. — A Raeford teen who ran away from home last week with an infant she was babysitting was found safe with the baby in Opp, Ala., Thursday evening, according to the Hoke County Sheriff's Office.
Renesha Shante Griner, 17, took 9-month-old Saniya Jaynelle Purcell out of state Saturday without permission, Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said.
Investigators found Griner and Saniya, both of whom were unharmed, Peterkin said.
Griner had convinced her 20-year-old ex-boyfriend that the infant was his baby, Peterkin said. Saniya had been taken in by the ex-boyfriend’s family, and it appeared that Griner had no intentions of returning to Raeford, investigators said.
Investigators in Opp got a tip that Griner was trying “to orchestrate something with her ex-boyfriend" and went to the man's house. Griner was at the ex-boyfriend’s house when police stopped by, but Saniya was with the man's mother, Peterkin said.
His family had already started making preparations for the baby, according to investigators.
Griner was in the custody of the Opp Police Department Thursday evening and was expected to be extradited to Hoke County soon. Peterkin said he was making travel arrangements for the child to be returned to her mother in Raeford.
Griner will be charged with first-degree kidnapping, Peterkin said.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and law officers in Georgia and Alabama assisted in the search. An Amber Alert was not issued in the case because Purcell was not believed to be in danger, investigators said.
Investigators find Hoke County sitter who left with child
RELATED TOPICS: Raeford, Hoke County
Copyright 2011 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
13 Comments
| MOST | Viewed | E-mailed | Discussed | ||
Most Viewed Stories
Most Viewed Videos
Most Viewed Slideshows
| |||||
| MOST | Viewed | E-mailed | Discussed |
Most E-mailed Stories
Most E-mailed Videos | |||
Multimedia
Key dates in the investigation of Lance Armstrong on charges he used performance-enhancing drugs.
Key events in Iran's relations with the West.
An interactive look at the controversial decision and reversal of the Susan G. Komen Foundation to stop funding breast exams at Planned Parenthood.
You Are The Missing Piece: JoinRotaryNC.com
New Townhomes in Chapel Hill - promo price



![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2012/02/04/10712136/pics_agunn53833-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717011/10717011-1328936455-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717059/10717059-1328939591-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717043/10717043-1328939633-100x75.jpg)






WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Um....I hope you are being sarcastic? I teach high school and just this semester (since January), I have had three pregnant girls in my classes. Last semester, I had one! Teaching 4 pregnant girls in one year (all 17 years old or younger) is outrageous! 3 had their babies and 1 has a miscarriage! The point is that maybe you think a 20 year old shouldn't have a baby but plenty of them and younger do! It doesn't make it right, but until parents start doing their jobs, this will continue...Apparently, sex is not a big deal...
May 29, 2009 11:06 a.m.
May 29, 2009 10:53 a.m.
May 29, 2009 10:26 a.m.
May 29, 2009 9:29 a.m.
May 29, 2009 9:19 a.m.