South Carolina Man Facing Kidnapping Charges After Arrest in Franklin County

A suspected kidnapper from Anderson South Carolina is hospitalized and facing charges in Franklin County and Anderson, South Carolina.

According to Gsp Hartwell Post 52 Commander Camran Fleming, on Wednesday, at approximately 12:42p Post 52 Troopers were notified by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office of a kidnapping suspect traveling south on Interstate 85 in South Carolina.

Fleming said as undercover investigators from South Carolina were following the suspect, it was determined that the driver had a 3-year-old in the front seat and threatened to kill the child.

As the suspect, identified as 32-year old Joshua Bennett Dornellas of Anderson, SC. entered Georgia, Hart County deputies attempted to stop him and a pursuit ensued.

Fleming said Troopers took primary in the pursuit on 85 southbound at mile marker 172.

As the pursuit approached mile marker 165, several Troopers attempted a box-in maneuver, which was unsuccessful.

As Dornellas continued to flee, the interior of his truck began to fill with smoke from a fire.

“Dornellas had intentionally set the fire and then jumped out through the driver’s side window while traveling at approximately 55 mph,” Fleming said. “The truck continued south striking an embankment and becoming fully engulfed in flames with the child inside. Troopers, MCCD officers, deputies from Franklin and Hart counties, and deputies from South Carolina were able to extinguish the fire and subsequently located the 3-year-old child in the floorboard of the driver’s side with severe burns.”

The child was provided medical attention and flown to the Augusta Burn Center in critical condition.

The driver was arrested and transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center for the injuries he sustained.

The suspect is facing a long list of criminal charges in both South Carolina and Georgia which will be released at a later date.