Man Charged With Transporting Missing Teen Before His Death

CUMMING, GA — A Gainsville man was arrested Monday and charged with driving missing 16-year-old Ryan Haley across state lines into Tennessee. Haley was reported missing March 21 and his body was found in a wooded area near Knoxville, Tenn., 10 days later.

George Steven Barnes, 46, of Gainesville, is charged with transporting Haley to the Knoxville area and leaving him there, Cpl. Doug Rainwater, Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, confirmed for Patch.

Barnes is charged with felony interference with custody. Rainwater said there is no evidence Barnes was involved with Haley’s death, nor any evidence of foul play. Haley was found by searchers in the mountains, amidst a wooded area near Knoxville. The exact cause of death is not yet known.

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At the moment, Rainwater confirmed, police believe that Haley had the uncle of his friend take him to Knoxville so that he could get away for a while.

Haley attended Mountain Education Charter School and was in 11th grade, according to the Ingram Funeral Home obituary. "Ryan loved skateboarding, outdoors, hiking, animals and hanging out with his friends," it reads.

Services for Haley are scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Ingram Funeral Home in Cumming.
In lieu of flowers, Haley’s obituary says donations may be made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or to the Forsyth County Humane Society.

Barnes has been booked into the Forsyth County jail and being held under a $27,630 bond.

Photo courtesy Forsyth County Sheriff's Office