MEMPHIS, Mo. — A Kirksville teen and his grandmother are facing multiple felony charges for allegedly removing a 15-year-old girl from school under false pretenses and subjecting her to potential harm, including marijuana exposure, according to court records filed in Scotland County Circuit Court.
Carter Miles Haynes, 19, is charged in Case No. 25SE-CR00023 with first-degree kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, tampering with a public record and impersonating another person. His grandmother, Michele Foland, is charged in Case No. 25SE-CR00024 with first-degree kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, as well as impersonating another person.
According to probable cause statements filed by Deputy Jason Moss of the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, Haynes arranged for Foland to drive him from Kirksville to Scotland County R-1 School in Memphis on Jan. 8, 2025. Once there, Haynes allegedly entered the school and falsely claimed to be the girl’s brother. He then signed her out using a forged name. Meanwhile, Foland reportedly called the school and impersonated the girl’s mother, authorizing her release.
Neither Haynes nor Foland had permission to remove the girl, who is legally required to attend school. The girl’s father had explicitly instructed both individuals not to contact her, according to court documents.
After removing the girl from school, the pair allegedly returned to Kirksville, where they planned to spend the evening at Foland’s residence while she was at work. Law enforcement later reported that a marijuana roach was found in the vehicle’s driver-side floorboard and that the car smelled strongly of marijuana. Haynes, who is under 21, was also found in possession of a can of chewing tobacco, which he admitted belonged to him.
Court documents state that the girl was placed in “substantial risk” by being taken without consent and exposed to controlled substances. Haynes is further accused of threatening the girl by phone following the incident.
The charges against Haynes include violation of Sections 565.110, 568.045, 575.110 and 575.120 of Missouri Revised Statutes. Foland is charged under the same kidnapping and endangerment statutes, as well as for impersonation under Section 575.120.
The amended felony complaints were filed on May 16. Both Haynes and Foland are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Both are scheduled for an initial appearance on June 17.
