After sparking a nationwide manhunt, a Paulding County man wanted on child molestation and sexual battery charges turned himself into the county Sheriff's Office around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Authorities accused Jerry Fagen, 30, of abusing his 8-year-old stepdaughter. They believe he fled the state with his wife, the stepdaughter, and her 1-year-old brother. Saturday, the children were found in Arizona with their mother.

No charges have been filed against the mother, Casey Fagen.

When the 8-year-old girl was found, her long brown curly hair had been cut extremely short to alter her appearance, the Sheriff's Office said.

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Thousands of UGA students enjoy during the annual “Frat Beach” party for the weekend of the Georgia-Florida football game on St. Simons Island, Friday, November 1, 2024. On the weekend of the Georgia-Florida football game, St. Simons Island’s East Beach becomes “Frat Beach,” an open-air party teeming with thousands of highly inebriated college students. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC