Federal authorities in Miami last night arrested Atlanta physician Kelly Thrasher, who has been the target of a nationwide hunt since Tuesday. A tip led U.S. Marshals to a hotel in the South Beach area of Miami, where Thrasher was taken into custody without incident, according to the Sandy Springs Police Department. He is being held in a Miami detention center, awaiting extradition to Georgia.

Sandy Springs police alerted state and federal authorities to Sandy Springs police on Tuesday that they were searching for Thrasher after they say he obtained a passport under a false name and did not show up for a scheduled meeting with detectives.

Thrasher is facing trial on a 2012 child molestation charge. He was rearrested in January, accused of practicing medicine after his license was suspended in January 2013. He now also faces charges of identity fraud and forgery, related to the passport.

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Travelers walk around the baggage claim in the South Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. Atlanta is among the airports where the FAA will reduce flights due to the shutdown, and airports are facing a shortage of air traffic controllers. 
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez