A suspect in a kidnapping and related arson investigation was arrested Thursday in Burke County. On Wednesday, a female was forced into a vehicle on South Main Street in Statesboro. Video from a witness provided information that led detectives to identify the vehicle and its registered owner, Xavier Evans. Through further investigation using Fusus and Flock tag reader system, the vehicle was tracked in Burke County. The female victim was found at Evans’ residence, and confirmed she was forced into the vehicle. The two were formerly in a romantic relationship before she moved to Statesboro. Evans was also linked to arson at the motel where the victim had been staying. Evans was booked into the Bulloch County Jail on charges of kidnapping, arson, and stalking. He remains in custody.
From SPD:
On May 27th, 2026, the Statesboro Police Department (SPD) received an anonymous tip and accompanying video clips from a concerned citizen. That citizen believed they had witnessed the abduction of a female who had been walking on South Main Street. The video clips provided key information to detectives, enabling them to identify the vehicle used and its registered owner, Xavier Evans (34, Hephzibah, GA).
Using both the Fusus video-sharing network and the Flock tag reader system, detectives tracked Evans’s vehicle as it returned to Burke County, GA. Detectives requested that Burke County deputies check Evans’s residence. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with a female who confirmed that Evans had forced her into the vehicle in Statesboro. The two were formerly in a romantic relationship, and the victim had moved to Statesboro several weeks prior to break ties with Evans. After a brief confrontation with deputies, Evans was taken into custody.
Subsequent investigation by detectives linked Evans to three unsolved arson cases involving fires set at the Super 8 on Jameson Avenue in Statesboro. The victim had been staying at the motel during that time period. Once again, Fusus and Flock technology proved instrumental in tracking Evans’s movements related to the arson cases.
Evans was booked into the Bulloch County Jail on the following charges: Kidnapping, Arson in the First Degree (3 counts), and Stalking. He remains in custody pending further judicial action.
This case represents what can be accomplished when concerned citizens share vital information, when technology is utilized to its fullest potential, and when law enforcement professionals collaborate seamlessly. SPD would like to thank the Burke County Sheriff’s Office for its tremendous assistance in locating the victim and arresting the offender. We would also like to commend and thank the citizen who initially reached out and provided the clues needed to safely resolve this situation.
Anyone with information on these cases should contact Captain Akins or Senior Detective Purvis at 912-764-9911 or submit an anonymous tip at https://statesboropd.com/ using the “Submit a Tip” link.
