An Effingham County woman who fled the state with her children amidst an investigation and against an order by the court has turned herself in after more than a year on the run.
34-year-old Kaylauni Rae French has been wanted by law enforcement in Effingham County since February 2024. French fled the Guyton, GA area with four of her children amid an investigation by the Georgia Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS) and an ongoing custody dispute. French has another minor son who resides with his father in another state and is not connected to the missing persons case.
The story unfolded for months before garnering media attention because it pertained to juvenile court and custody matters. French’s legal issues involved five children from three fathers across five states.
In the Spring of 2024, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office issued arrest warrants for French for the following charges:
- Interference with Custody (Interstate) – 4 counts
- Cruelty to Children/Criminal Negligence/Causes Excessive – 4 counts
- Maintaining a Disorderly House – 1 count
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that French turned herself into the Effingham County Jail in cooperation with the District Attorney’s Office, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and her attorney.
The children, the Sheriff’s Office said, are now in the custody of their father, per a court order.
Read TheGeorgiaVirtue’s previous coverage on this story here:
