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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Angie McBrayer, ex-wife of James Aaron McBrayer, leans her head on her son Sam McBrayer as she and her three children and two grandchildren (from left) Jackson McBrayer, 3, Piper Jae McBrayer, 7, Katy Isaza, and Jordan McBrayer, visit the grave of James McBrayer, Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Tifton. He died after being restrained by Tift County sheriff's deputies on April 24, 2019. His ex-wife witnessed the arrest and said she thought the deputies were being rough but did not imagine that McBrayer would die. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC