Amber alert child found with father and his girlfriend

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Brooklyn Smith, 12, of Hall County was found safe Sunday in a McDonough hotel.

Police say Smith was found with her 31-year-old father, Stephen Spires, and his 19-year-old girlfriend, Carmen Clay.

The 12-year-old first went missing July 26, which sparked an amber alert.

While investigators worked to find her, Smith called Channel 2's Tony Thomas to say she was physically fine.

During the telephone conversation she told Thomas she was not with her father and his girlfriend.

She went on to say, "First of all I was not kidnapped. I ran away and I had planned on running away for a month or so. I was saving up money of $500 or so."

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Both Spires and Clay were arrested by Spalding County sheriff's deputies.

Smith's mother, Selena Smith, is relieved to know deputies found her daughter unharmed.

"She'll lie for him. She'll protect him, and she called the news and said 'I'm not with my dad. I'm with friends.' and obviously that wasn't true," Selena Smith said.

There's a custody battle between Smith and Spires. Spires had an active warrant out for interference of custody.

Fulton County jail records show he was charged with rape, battery and sexual exploitation of a minor between 2001-2007.

Smith says he daughter might need some psychological help, once she's home.

Smith was taken into protective custody by Hall County DFACS.

Selena Smith says her daughter needs to undergo some testing before she can come home. She is unsure when her daughter will come home.

Cox Media Group