Schools

Arrest In Texas Linked To Missing North Atlanta High Student

Man arrested in connection with disappearance of Caitlin Winchester, who went missing Aug. 5, but was found Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

Caitlin Winchester (left) disappeared on Aug. 5, after being dismissed from North Atlanta High School. The 14-year-old was found safe on Aug. 10, in Arlington, Texas with Andre McNair, 23, who now faces a charge of harboring a child runaway.
Caitlin Winchester (left) disappeared on Aug. 5, after being dismissed from North Atlanta High School. The 14-year-old was found safe on Aug. 10, in Arlington, Texas with Andre McNair, 23, who now faces a charge of harboring a child runaway. (Courtesy of Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta and the Arlington (Texas) Police Department.)

ATLANTA β€” Police have arrested a man in Texas in connection with the disappearance of North Atlanta High School student Caitlin Winchester.

Arlington Police charged Andre Marcelis McNair, 23, with one count of harboring a runaway child.

"The FBI asked us to assist," Arlington Police spokesman Officer Jesse Minton told Patch on Wednesday. "They were checking an area near a park in Arlington last night and found her with Andre McNair."

Find out what's happening in Buckheadfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

McNair was taken into custody Tuesday evening a the Arlington jail and was moved to the Tarrant County Jail in Ft. Worth, where he is being held on a $5,000 bond.

Atlanta Public School officials announced Wednesday morning that Winchester had been found safe after school police and FBI collaborated.

Find out what's happening in Buckheadfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"Caitlin Winchester, the North Atlanta High School student who went missing on Aug. 5, has been found safe in Arlington, Texas," APS school officials tweeted Wednesday. "The family has been notified and has requested privacy at this time."

Caitlin Winchester did not return home last Thursday after school ended and was last seen around 4 p.m., walking along Northside Drive toward Mt. Paran Road, according to reports from WAGA Fox 5.

A $100,000 reward was placed through Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta and the FBI was involved in the search for the 14-year-old Winchester.

It remains unclear why or how Winchester made her way from Atlanta to Arlington, what prior connection, if any, she had with McNair, and how they met.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.