Freddie Grant (Image: Lexington County Detention Center)
Elgin, SC (WLTX) - It has been two weeks since Gabbiee Swainson went missing.
Swainson, 15, hasn't been seen since August 18. Deputies say Freddie Grant, 52, kidnapped the girl early that morning and took her to his home.
On Saturday, Grant's former pastor from the Ft. Clark Baptist Church in Elgin, spoke to News19 about the suspect.
"Things started happening and then when his wife passed things went downhill," said William Woodard.
Woodard pastored from 1989 until 2009, and says he saw signs that something wasn't quite right with Grant.
"He seemed to be kind of quiet and reserved, he kept to himself," explained Woodard. "Then the next thing I know he was back in drugs and selling drugs, whatever the case may be, and he wasn't coming to church. Very infrequently did he come to church."
In 1991 and 1992 Grant was arrested and charged with the intent to use and distribute crack and cocaine.
When Woodard first heard Gabbiee was missing he was concerned and when he learned Grant was connected Woodard reflected on his past relationship with the suspect.
"To be honest with you not just him, but I started to look at people that I have known in the past that used drugs and seeing their life progressively going down. So it was not a complete surprise when I looked at it in that perspective."
Sheriff Leon Lott says since his arrest, Grant has refused to say anything to law enforcement; something Woodard is not surprised by.
"Based on past experience I doubt he is going to talk. I talked with him in the past about some things that was going on and he would not talk, no emotion, no facial expressions or anything."
Grant is also being investigated in connection to 29-year-old Adriana Laster's disappearance; A woman Woodard says he saw at church several times with Grant.
If you have any information about Gabbiee Swainson or Adriana Laster, call CrimeStoppers, 1-888-CRIME-SC.
If you have any information about Gabbiee Swainson or Adriana Laster, call CrimeStoppers, 1-888-CRIME-SC.