The search for 14-year-old James Shealy, who has been missing since the early hours of September 24, 2024, is causing anxiety and worry in the small South Carolina town of Lexington. His father, Beth Curles Shealy, verified the frightening news in a post on his X account, highlighting the critical need for community support. With the help of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department has sent staff and resources in an attempt to find the little child, whose disappearance has had a significant effect on his friends and family, as more information becomes available.
James was last seen on Wise Ferry Road at around 5:30 a.m. that morning, based on his father’s statement. When the family awoke and realized he had vanished, they became concerned for his safety because he had not taken his cell phone with him. Since about seven in the morning, the Sheriff’s Department has been involved, carrying out thorough searches in the hopes of locating James.
James is said to be about 135 pounds in weight and 6 feet tall. He was allegedly wearing tennis shoes, shorts, and a dark grey, almost charcoal-colored hoodie when he vanished. His family has reason to think that he might be in danger because he doesn’t have any communication gadgets and his absence is unusual.
Jilly Kipp, his aunt, used social media to mobilize people and spread the word about James’s abduction. She makes a sincere request on Facebook for everyone to help with the hunt, writing, “I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!” My nephew is gone from Lexington, South Carolina. When my sister woke up this morning, she and her husband discovered he was gone. His phone is not with him. He might be in jeopardy. She urged friends and family to spread the word about the letter and urged anyone with information to get in touch with her or the authorities.
In addition to questioning friends and neighbors in the area, examining James’s things, and using cutting-edge equipment like drones and scent-tracking dogs to collect leads, the authorities are using a variety of tactics in their hunt. The search team is still holding out hope that they will find fresh details that could point to James’s safe return.
