Grace McAlister
Reporter1@riverbendnews.org
Under Florida Statute 985.04, the name, photograph and arrest report of a juvenile offender who commits a felony offense, is charged with a felony violation, or is transferred to an adult court of law is not considered confidential and exempt solely because of the child's age. All information has been obtained by Riverbend News reporters from local law enforcement agencies and was released legally and fairly.
According to a report from the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday, Aug. 31, Gabriel Lynn Blitch and Kaelin Walker, both 13-years-old, were reported as missing persons due to fleeing on foot from Suwannee Middle School. The duo was last observed in a heavily overgrown field south of Suwannee Middle School, running south towards Bass Road. Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Patrol & Criminal Investigations Division personnel responded to the incident and searched the area in an attempt to locate them, which provided unsuccessful results.
Walker and Blitch were able to avoid authorities and walked east towards U.S. Highway 129, coming to Lundy’s Gun Shop. Upon arrival, the pair located a black 2017 Hyundai sedan, which was still running as the owner was entering the business. Walker entered the passenger seat of the vehicle and Blitch entered the driver’s seat and drove south on U.S. Highway 129. The victim, upon exiting the business, discovered her vehicle had been stolen and contacted the business's owner, who subsequently called 911.
The SCSO Communications Center received the call around 1:30 p.m. SCSO Patrol Division Deputies began to search for the vehicle southbound on U.S. 129, which was the last known direction of travel, and Deputy Roger Howard located the car in McAlpin. Deputy Howard attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the car, but Blitch refused to stop and sped away erratically, at approximately 100 mph in the wrong lane.
Deputy Howard halted the pursuit for the public’s safety, however, he continued to follow at a safe distance. Deputy Howard observed the car turn onto a side road that he knew was a dead-end and followed the vehicle to the end. When the driver reached the end of the roadway with nowhere else to go, they stopped the car. After a brief foot pursuit, the driver and passenger decided to run away again but were quickly captured.
After arresting the duo, deputies discovered that Blitch had a large kitchen knife in her possession. Walker had two screwdrivers, along with $44 in cash that he took from the center console of the stolen vehicle. Additionally, a pistol was legally stored in the car when it was stolen.
Both juveniles were arrested and transported to the Suwannee County Jail before being remanded to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice custody, where they were charged with: grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, petit theft and resisting arrest. Along with these charges, Blitch was also charged with fleeing and eluding and operating a motor vehicle with no driver’s license.