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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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez