Vansant Man Charged in Abduction of Grundy Teen

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor  
  A 22-year-old Vansant area man was taken into custody Friday evening and charged in connection with the abduction of a 14-year-old Grundy High School student last Wednesday.
  The 14-year-old girl was located after a two-day search in the Clifton Fork area. Buchanan County Sheriff's Department deputies and a canine officer located the girl as she signaled them with a flashlight in what was described as a briar patch. They found her, fully clothed, on a blanket with her wrists and ankles bound by shoelaces tied in bow knots.
  Carter Glen Varney, who was listed by the sheriff's department with a Vansant address, was charged with abduction, carnal knowledge of a child and obstruction of justice after he allegedly abducted the girl from the parking lot at Grundy High School last Wednesday morning.
  The girl also alleged she was raped, however, Varney has not been charged with rape. According to the sheriff's department, that investigation is continuing while the department awaits the results of physical testing.
  Sheriff's Department Deputy Crystal Justus said the girl was reported missing by her parents last Wednesday after she failed to show up after school.
  According to statements taken from the girl after she was found, Justus said the girl alleged Varney came to the parking lot at school and she went out to talk to him. She then alleged she was forced into his car and left school property, Justus said.
  Parking lot surveillance tapes which may be available through the school are being sought by the sheriff's department.
  Varney was reportedly an acquaintance of the girl.
  Sheriff's department officials went Wednesday night to Varney's home after some of the girl's friends mentioned she knew him and Justus said the department received tips the girl was at the Clifton Fork residence at which he lived.
  "We went up to talk to him, but he denied talking to her or seeing her in the past three weeks," Justus said.
  She noted Varney gave them consent to search the home and they did so, but found nothing out of the ordinary or anything to suggest the girl had been there.
  Later, Justus said she received a description of a pocketbook the girl carried and received a second call on Thursday saying the girl was at the Varney residence.
  Deputies returned to the residence and Varney's grandfather allowed them to search the home again. Varney was not there.
  However, this time, Justus said in the search, she found the pocketbook described to her in a closet in the bedroom along with a bag of clothing and a pair of earrings the juvenile's mother had described her as wearing the day she turned up missing.
  "The grandfather gave us permission to take those items and in the pocketbook I found a picture of her sister and brother," Justus said.
  However, she said, the deputies still had no luck in locating the girl, nor did they see Varney.
  Another tip was received that the girl was seen at a Rowe location, however, Justus said that tip did not pan out either.
  On Friday, deputies returned to the Clifton Fork residence, but saw no one there; however around 6:30 or 7 p.m. as deputies searched the area behind the residence, they found the girl in the woods off a gas well road.
  She reportedly signaled them with a flashlight, but did not call out because she alleged Varney had threatened to kill her if she called out and she feared the approaching footsteps were Varney trying to trick her.
  After his daughter alleged to her father she had been raped during the two days she was missing, her father reportedly assaulted Varney and was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.

James Keen Elected as New CofC President
Officers, Directors to Be Installed at April Meeting

  James Keen was elected president of the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday during a full membership meeting of the chamber.
  New officers and directors elected will take office in April.
  Chris Shortridge was named fist vice president; Jodi Reynolds was named second vice president; and Garnette Owens was named immediate past president.
  Directors elected were Sherry Bright, Billie Campbell, Susan Mayhew, Agnes Mullins, Lyle Mutter, William Neeley, Roger Powers, Nancy Pruitt, Bill Raines, Pat Ratliff, Jay Rife, Jon Rife, Roger Rife, Ginger Robertson, Reid Scott, Geraldine Shortridge and Oliver UpChurch.
  In other business at Thursday's meeting, which was held at the Appalachian School of Law, chamber members heard from Sen. Phillip Puckett, who talked about statewide transportation concerns, including the Coalfields Expressway; and Sandy Shortridge, a member of the Buchanan County Tourism Committee, who updated members on the proposed Coal Heritage Trail.

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