Man convicted of rape, kidnapping after missing 10-year-old girl found alive hidden in wall
BLOUNT COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – A 57-year-old man was found guilty on all charges stemming from the 2024 disappearance of a 10-year-old girl.
Johnny Chandler appeared before a Blount County jury on Thursday, where he was convicted of rape in the first degree, kidnapping, two counts of sexual abuse of a child under 12, unlawful imprisonment and obstructing governmental operations.
The child was reported missing in the early morning hours of March 10, 2024.
After a coordinated search involving several local and federal agencies, authorities said the girl was found alive at a home in the Warrior area, with Chandler arrested.
Testimony over four days indicated Chandler confessed after his arrest to picking up the child outside her home early that morning. Authorities said he also confessed to raping her at his home.
After the child was removed safely, investigators executed a search warrant at Chandler’s home. During the search, officers said they found a concealed hole inside a basement stairwell wall, hidden behind a portable heater.
Inside the space, they located bedding materials and a child’s stuffed animal.
“This case is one of the most disturbing we have seen,” District Attorney Pamela Casey said. “A 10-year-old child was taken and concealed inside a wall in a residence. The level of planning, concealment, and abuse involved in this case is difficult to comprehend. Chandler has forfeited his place in a free society.”
The girl testified that Chandler, whom she knew through her stepfather, told her to hide in the concealed space when law enforcement initially responded to the home after her cellphone pinged at that location.
The child was not found during that first search, authorities said.
Medical testimony also indicated Chandler’s DNA was found on the girl’s clothing.
Additional testimony stated Chandler had been grooming the child over time, including buying her a cellphone and other items.
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