Elgin, SC (WLTX) - Richland County investigators are continuing to search for Gabbiee Swainson Wednesday, a day after they announced she'd been kidnapped by her mother's boyfriend.
Swainson, 15, hasn't been seen since August 18. For over a week, family and friends had been desperately searching for any clues about where she may be.
Tuesday, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced a disturbing development: her mother's boyfriend--52-year-old Freddie Grant--was being held on charges that he took the girl. Previous Coverage: Grant Arrested, Charged with Kidnapping Gabbiee | FBI Joins Search for Missing Teen | Reward for Missing Girl Raised
Perhaps more troubling, Lott revealed, was the discovery of Gabbiee's blood on duct tape at Grant's home, and other DNA evidence that the sheriff says shows the man took the girl.
But according to Lott, even though he's a family friend, Grant has refused to help investigators learn the fate of the girl.
Despite a lack of cooperation, investigators say they've been able to piece together some of what happened through forensic evidence. Lott says there were no signs of forced entry at the home, and officers believe he took the girl against her will shortly after the girl's mother left for work in the middle of the night.
Investigators say the GPS in the girl's cell phone showed the path they took from her home, and that it led to Grant's residence.
Detectives were suspicious of Grant because he has a criminal past, and began to believe he could be a suspect. They found bullets in his home, which allowed them to book him last Sunday on a federal weapons charge that prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.
Within in a few days in custody, though, officers compiled enough evidence to bring the kidnapping charge against Grant.
As for what's happened to Gabbiee, Lott is not speculating. He says his goal is to bring the girl back to her family.
To that end, his officers have been aggressively searching a junkyard across from Grant's home. Tuesday, roughly 120 federal, state, and local officers searched the land to find clues that could end this case.
So far, it's unclear if they've recovered what they need.
Meanwhile, anyone who may have information about the kidnapping or Grant is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.