The father of a 13-year-old girl who police say went on a multi-state crime spree with her older boyfriend furiously denied Tuesday she was abused at home, but said that he is not angry with the 18-year-old.
Cheyenne Phillips, 13, and Dalton Hayes, 18, were arrested late Saturday in Panama City Beach after authorities found them sleeping in a stolen vehicle.
'I don't have anything against him. I'm not upset with this boy. He's a boy. And apparently he thinks something of my daughter. He's just not thinking clearly,' Shawn Phillips told The Associated Press.
Shawn Phillips also denied as 'completely bogus' Hayes' allegation that Cheyenne Phillips told him she had been abused at home.
'Anyone that knows us knows better. My family is pretty well respected in the community,' said Phillips, 38.
Hayes made the abuse allegations during a jailhouse interview with The News Herald of Panama City, telling the paper they just wanted to escape Phillips' family, who she claimed were beating her, and planned to make it to Miami. Officials and others said Tuesday that they did not know of any allegations of abuse.
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New claims: Dalton Hayes, 18, pictured above during a court hearing, said that his girlfriend Cheyenne Phillips, 13, was being beaten in her Kentucky home
Together: Hayes is pictured above with his young sweetheart, Cheyenne Phillips. She is said to have told him she was 19 - rather than her true age of 13
Close: Dalton Hayes posted his relationship status as 'engaged' on his Facebook profile, beside a picture of Cheyenne Phillips
Arrested moms: Cheyenne Phillips's mother Sherry Peters, is now in custody after being arrested over allegations of 'custodial interference', meaning that she may have helped the couple flee
Hearing: Hayes, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, scratched himself in front of the judge during the brief appearance
'All I had to do was tell her to go home and none of this would've happened, but it's hard to tell someone getting beat on to go home,' Hayes said. 'But, if I could go back, I'd be paying for bus rides instead of stealing trucks.'
Shawn Phillips said he and his wife divorced before Cheyenne Phillips was born. He said he and his grandparents have raised her since she was 3 on their farm near Clarkson, where he said Cheyenne had everything she could ever want. But he said Cheyenne would often lie to him. Still, she had a 9 p.m. curfew on school nights and a 10 p.m. curfew on weekends, rules that she never broke.
The abuse allegations are 'something we'll talk about when they get back to Kentucky,' Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins told The Associated Press. He said he was unaware of any previous accusations of abuse.
The crime spree started on January 3 when police say Cheyenne Phillips' mother, Sherry Phillips, picked Cheyenne up from her house near Clarkson. Sherry Phillips does not have custody or visitation rights with her daughter, and police arrested her on Monday on a charge of custodial interference. She is in jail on a $50,000 cash bond and has a court hearing scheduled for Thursday morning.
The pair's travels took them to South Carolina and Georgia and included a night in a frigid barn, Hayes said.
Shawn Phillips said police in Breckenridge County caught up with the couple two days after they disappeared, but were unable to catch them. Phillips said he and other family members searched the woods until about 10:30 that night looking for the teens.
Hayes agreed in court Monday to return to Kentucky to face charges. He is expected to be charged in Kentucky with burglary, theft, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief. Phillips will face charges in juvenile court. Florida's Department of Children & Families took Phillips to a safe house to make arrangements to return home.
'It ain't like we were killing cops and robbing stores,' unlike the notorious outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, to whom the couple were compared in some media reports, Hayes said. 'We just went on a few high-speed chases.'
Tammy Martin, Hayes' mother, said the couple had been dating for about three months. She said the girl portrayed herself as being 19. By the time her son realized she was only 13, he was already in love with her, she said.
Hayes said he wanted to show his 13-year-old girlfriend 'the beach and ocean' before he was locked up for burglary, Daily Mail Online can reveal.
Hayes feared he would be jailed for up to five years and wouldn't get the chance to make Cheyenne Phillip's dream come true of seeing the sea for the first time.
The 18-year-old and his girlfriend fled from their small Kentucky town the day before Dalton's case was scheduled to go before a grand jury.
Shackled: Hayes, pictured above chained up in the Bay County Jail, said perhaps he should have taken a bus
Caught: Hayes, pictured above in an IHOP parking lot in Panama City Beach, Florida, agreed to be extradited home to Kentucky
Today it emerged her mother, who had been not been involved with her daughter for much of the last decade, had also been arrested for 'custodial interference' - in other words helping the two teenagers flee across four states.
Friends and family of Hayes, who with Cheyenne was dubbed 'Bonnie and Clyde,' told Daily Mail Online he wasn't going to let a court appearance stop him from reaching Florida.
He was facing five to ten years in jail after being charged with second-degree burglary.
Hayes, who is in jail awaiting extradition, said that his girlfriend Cheyenne Phillips, 13, dreamed up the plan to flee their hometown of Leichtfield, Kentucky - and he went along with it to save her from the alleged violence.
Speaking from the Bay County Jail in the Florida panhandle, Hayes told the Panama City News Herald he would still flee given the chance.
He added that he only found out Hayes is actually 13 - not 19 as he had first believed - days before they left.
But in their hometown of Leitchfield, her father denied there had been abuse, law enforcement said they had never heard any abuse allegations, and friends of his family said they had heard an entirely different version of events.
Hayes' mother, Tammy Martin, said she was not aware of any abuse allegations.
'Cheyenne was here the night before they left and she never said anything.,' she said.
'I never got any hints of that whatsoever. Met both her mother and father, and they both seem like, you know, nice people.'
WHY HE WAS GOING TO PRISON
Court papers reveal that Hayes admitted stealing televisions and other goods from a home in Leitchfield in December.
An affidavit for a search warrant on a home where the stolen goods were found said: 'On 12/15.2014 Officer Jesse Townsend met with Dalton Hayes, as a result of the investigation.
'At that time, Mr Hayes voluntarily admitted to committing the burglary and taking several items including a weed eater, a guitar and other items that were recovered at the time.'
The court papers list the stolen goods as 32in TV, a 27in TV, four chainsaws, MP3 players and a weed eater.
Hayes was bonded out of jail after his mother offered a surety of $10,000.
'We all heard that he wanted to show Cheyenne the ocean,' said family friend Joseph Spence.
'That was the reason they ran away. Cheyenne had never see the ocean before and Dalton wanted to take her there before he was jailed.
'He is not a bad person but I think just totally in love with Cheyenne and wanted to do this for her.'
Hayes's mother Tammy Martin said her son had told her in a jailhouse interview from Panama City, Florida, that he was so happy his girlfriend had got the chance to go swimming in the sea.
'Dalton said one of the nicest sights he has ever seen was Cheyenne playing in the sea and running along the beach,' she said.
'He was really happy that they got to go to the ocean together – but now he has to pay the consequences.
'I know he wanted to take her to the beach, but there must have been other reasons for him to put his whole future at risk.'
The 'Bonnie and Clyde' pair sparked a nationwide hunt after they disappeared from their hometown of Leitchfield in Kentucky on January 4th.
The two were suspected of stealing cars in various states and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
The manhunt took on a threatening twist after it was revealed two of the stolen cars had guns inside.
Together: Hayes, pictured above with Phillips, had been on the run for two weeks
In care: Cheyenne Phillips is now being supervised in Florida by local authorities. Her mom has been arrested for alleged 'custodial interference'
Spree: Shown above are the known sightings of the pair, from their disappearance until their arrest
Family members feared that the pair could end up in a shootout mirroring the grisly deaths of the 1920s Bonnie and Clyde bank robbers.
'There were nights when I could not sleep,' Martin said.
'I lay awake at night expecting to get a telephone call telling me my son had been shot.
'Dalton is not a bad person, but when I heard about the guns being in the truck I just feared the worst.
'I am so grateful that they were caught in a way that no one was harmed. I just want my boy back home.'
The pair were arrested on Sunday after US Marshalls found them asleep in a Toyota Tundra that had been stolen in Georgia.
Sheriff Norman Chaffins of Grayson county in Leitchfield Kentucky. He is heading to Florida to pick up Dalton Hayes, who has waived his extradition rights
Back home: Dalton Hayes's mother Tammy Martin says she is relieved he is alive
They did not resist arrest and in a court appearance Hayes said he would not fight any extradition back to Kentucky.
In the prison interview with the News Herald of Panama City Hayes said he and Cheyenne were hoping to reach Miami.
He said he wished he had simply bought bus tickets rather than steal trucks. Hayes also played down the 'Bonnie and Clyde' comparisons.
'It ain't like we were killing cops and robbing stores,' Hayes said. 'We just went on a few high-speed chases.'
Meanwhile Cheyenne's mother was being held in jail after being arrested on a charge of custodial interference.
Sherry Peters was held on Monday after she arrived for an appointment with Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins.
She has recently been reconciled with her daughter after playing little part in her life for much of the last decade.
Hayes and Phillips are due to arrive back in Leitchfield on Friday after Sheriff Chaffins collects them from Florida.
Bonded: Dalton Hayes's mother stood bond for him but surrendered it before he fled, so will avoid liability for the $10,000
Charges: The release order details some of the charges he was facing
Back to school: Cheyenne was a pupil at Grayson County Middle School. One local said there was no way that Hayes could not have known she was 13
Famiy: Dalton Hayes with mom Tammy Martin and sister Heather enjoy a seaside holiday. He told family he wanted his girlfriend to see the sea - because he was facing a prison sentence
Beach fan: Dalton Hayes said that he wanted his girlfriend, 13, to share his love of the beach and see the ocean
Hayes is expected to be charged with burglary, theft, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief. His girlfriend will also face charges but in a juvenile court as she is only 13 years old.
She is in the care of child services in Florida and has had no contact with her boyfriend since their arrest.
Sheriff Chaffins said Hayes could also face other charges once he has had the chance to interview Cheyenne.
There has been much speculation on social media over why Hayes has not faced any statutory rape or under age sex offences.
'Depending on what she has to say there could be other charges,' Sheriff Chaffin told Daily Mail Online.
'We have to interview both of them when they are back in our custody.
'We have to establish exactly the nature of the relationship. Even if sex was consensual, in Kentucky at the age of 13 a person is considered a minor.'
Sheriff Chaffins said he has consulted with the FBI and said Hayes is not facing any federal charges of transporting a minor across state lines.
He said Hayes was 'well known' to the local police department.
On his way: Dalton Hayes will appear at Grayson County Court after being flown back from Florida, having waived his extradition rights. He is 'well known' to local law enforcement, said the local sheriff
Busted: Hayes, pictured center in shorts, was taken in alongside Phillips, who will be processed through the juvenile courts system
Spotted: Hayes and Phillips were pictured above at a Walmart in South Carolina, where they allegedly forged checks to get money to finance their spree
'I am sure he wanted to impress a 13-year-old child,' said Sheriff Chaffin,.
I know Hayes and he has a habit of not wanting to take responsibility for his choices.'
The Hayes family have claimed that Dalton initially had no idea his girlfriend was 13 years old when he began seeing her.
His mother said he found out a few weeks into their relationship and by that time he was in love and could not split up with her.
Others in Leitchfield cast doubt on how Hayes could not have known his girlfriend was barely a teenager.
'This is a small town where everyone knows everyone,' said one resident who declined to be named.
'Hayes went to the same schools as Cheyenne. He would only have needed to ask any of her friends and he would have found out she was 13 years old.'
Hayes's mum Tammy said she was fooled by Cheyenne.
'When she had on her make-up she looked 19 years old,' she said.
'She would go into stores and cash checks and come out with cigarettes and other things. I never thought she was 13 years old.
'I would drop her home sometimes and she did not act like a 13-year-old. She was very mature for her age.'
Troubled: Dalton Hayes hinted at a family with difficulties in this Facebook posting
Family bonding: Dalton Hayes with sister Heather. He faces being apart from his family for years after his four-state 'Bonnie and Clyde' crime spree with his 13-year-old girlfriend
School child: Dalton Hayes in 5th grade. His girlfriend, Cheyenne Phillips, with whom he went on the run, will return to middle school soon
At home: Dalton Hayes aged six. He is now facing charges in his home town in Kentucky after a four-state crime spree
Hayes was already dating the teen when he was arrested for burglary.
Court papers reveal that Hayes admitted stealing televisions and other goods from a home in Leitchfield in December.
An affidavit for a search warrant on a home where the stolen goods were found said: 'On 12/15.2014 Officer Jesse Townsend met with Dalton Hayes, as a result of the investigation.
'At that time, Mr Hayes voluntarily admitted to committing the burglary and taking several items including a weed eater, a guitar and other items that were recovered at the time.'
The court papers list the stolen goods as 32in TV, a 27in TV, four chainsaws, MP3 players and a weed eater.
Hayes was bonded out of jail after his mother offered a surety of $10,000.
Two days before her son fled with his girlfriend she surrendered the bond and so will not be liable to lose the money.
Hayes's case was scheduled to be heard by a Grand Jury on Monday January 5th but in the event was not called.
Sheriff Chaffins said a second-degree burglary is classed as a third degree felony and carries a five to ten year jail sentence.
Hayes's mum accepts that he was looking at spending several years in jail for the burglary.
With a new raft of charges from the multi state crime spree it could mean her son will be locked up for over five years.
She said her son had been a 'troubled teenager' and she hoped a spell in jail would help him get his life back on track.
Tammy said her son was unemployed and had failed to graduate from high school.
One of three: The pair stand accused of stealing three pickup trucks over the two-week period. The were allegedly driving the above vehicle through South Carolina, but were arrested sleeping in another one Sunday in Florida
'I have spoken to Dalton and he is pretty scared,' she said.
'I think he knows that he is going to prison for sometime and I know he is worried that he and Cheyenne will split up. I am pretty sure there will be a no contact order.
'He knows what he did was stupid, but I guess he was not thinking straight. He and Cheyenne were here on the Saturday before they left and they gave no hint of what they were doing.
'I really think it was a spur of the moment and they just took off.'
Cheyenne's dad was the first to raise the alarm and report his daughter missing.
The pair were able to evade police in Kentucky and leave the state.
They crashed the first truck they stole, plowing through a cattle farm, and hid in the woods before stealing second truck.
At one point, the two were spotted at a Walmart in South Carolina, where the teens are thought to have passed two stolen checks.
Home: Dalton Hayes mother says she will first hug him when he gets home, then may slap him
Authorities believe they then headed to Georgia and stole a pickup truck from the driveway of a man's home in Henry County, about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta.
The homeowner awoke Wednesday to find his vehicle was gone, along with two handguns he kept inside, Henry County police Lt. Joey Smith said.
Hours later, another truck the couple are suspected of having stolen in another state was found nearby.
It had been crashed through a fence and abandoned behind a vacant building on neighboring property, Smith said.
Tammy made several TV appeals for her son to give himself up as she and her daughters, Heather, 25 and Molly, 20, feared the worst.
In a Facebook post Heather hit out at the Bonnie and Clyde label.
She wrote: 'These kids are not dangerous to anyone and would not hurt anyone. We believe they are scared and in love and to the point they don't know what to do. This is outrageous that they are referring to them as Bonnie and Clyde.
'They have in no way cause a path of destruction as Bonnie and Clyde did. My family as well as Cheyenne has be hurt enough and continues to do so everyday worried sick about them. I want my brother home safe and unharmed. He is missed dearly and we are worrying ourselves to death about him.'
Grayson County Sheriff Chaffins said he was uncomfortable with the 'Bonnie and Clyde' tag but said the notoriety of the couple helped bring about a peaceful resolution to the investigation.
'We never like to label a crime and the Bonnie and Clyde name came from the media. We at the Sheriff's office did not call them that.
'In this case it helped the couple achieve a certain notoriety and that helped as police forces across the country were on the lookout for them.
'The US Marshalls did a superb job in apprehending them and bringing the matter to a peaceful conclusion.'
