After nearly two years on the run, authorities in Georgia have arrested a fugitive who was found inside of an air conditioner vent.
The Grady County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement that Kayla McKenzie was arrested in Moultrie, Georgia, on Monday, April 20.
McKenzie was on the run for nearly two years after she received an outstanding felony bench warrant, according to the sheriff’s office.
A bench warrant is “an order from a judge that allows law enforcement to arrest someone who hasn’t followed a court order. This could happen if someone missed a court date, skipped paying a fine, or failed to follow probation terms,” according to Bogle Law.
Unlike an arrest warrant, a bench warrant focuses on compliance. The purpose of a bench warrant is to make sure the person adheres to the court’s rules. An example of when a bench warrant is issued when someone doesn’t show up for their court date, a judge may issue a bench warrant to ensure they come back.
Authorities were finally able to track McKenzie down after investigators received a tip that she was allegedly hiding inside a residence in Moultrie. The home where she was found is located about 35 miles away from Grady County.
Officers then reported to the location, where they found McKenzie allegedly hiding inside the vent of an air conditioner on the ground.
Police did not reveal who shared the tip or how they had the information regarding McKenzie’s whereabouts. It’s also not known what she has been up to over the past few years or why she was at the home she was located at.
McKenzie was then taken into custody without further incident and she was transported to a detention facility. The sheriff’s office confirmed that she will now face the charges associated with her outstanding felony bench warrant.
However, it is not currently clear if she will face charges in connection with the allegations that she has been on the run from the law.
It is also not currently clear if McKenzie has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Grady County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case or any additional charges that McKenzie may be facing.
In addition to confirming that McKenzie was found, the sheriff’s office shared photos of her in the back of a police car. The department’s Facebook page also uploaded a photo of the air conditioner vent she was hiding inside of.
