Missing South Carolina family discovered--in Decorah

The disappearance of a South Carolina family has made national news this week.  Now the family has been found--on Quarry Hill Road in Decorah.

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office says the Law Enforcement Center received a phone call Thursday about a possible sighting of the Ray Family in the Decorah Walmart parking lot.  A  short time later a second call came in, saying they had seen the vehicle traveling just north of Decorah.  Winneshiek County Deputies located and stopped the vehicle on Quarry Hill Road.  William Ray, Jessica Ray and 2-year-old Dakota Ray were located in the vehicle. Dakota Ray had been entered as a missing and exploited child since April 15th.

 

44-year-old William Ray of Camden, South Carolina, was arrested and charged with felony theft, operating a non-registered vehicle, no valid drivers license, failure to provide proof of financial liability and Fifth Degree Theft.  36-year-old Jessica Ray was arrested on a Fifth Degree Theft charge.

In addition to the Winneshiek County charges, William Ray also had an outstanding arrest warrant out of South Carolina. 

William and Jessica were both transported to the Winneshiek County Jail. William will remain incarcerated awaiting the extradition process to South Carolina.  2-year-old Dakota Ray was placed into the custody of the Department of Human Services, where she is being cared for. 

The case remains under investigation.  The Sheriff's Office says additional charges are pending.  The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Decorah Police Department and the Winneshiek County Attorney's Office.

1:30pm update:  William and Jessica Ray had their initial appearance hearings before a Winneshiek County magistrate on Friday. William Ray was held on $10,000 cash bond on the Winneshiek County charges and no bond on the South Carolina charges. He will face extradition and be transported back to South Carolina. Jessica Ray was held on a $1,250 cash bond. Both subjects remain in the Winneshiek County Jail.