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by ERIN PARROTT
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The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department (LCSD) confirmedTuesday afternoon that a teenage runaway who had been missing since late November had been located and determined to be safe.
According to LCSD, 16-year-old Mackenzie Dalton was found in Lexington County as of 1:25 p.m. EST on Tuesday (January 6, 2026). Authorities said there is no indication Dalton was ever held against her will or was with anyone she did not choose to be with. As part of the investigation into her disappearance, however, deputies arrested Mackenzie Keith English Jr.
English, 18, was charged with obstruction of justice after allegedly lying to investigators about being with Dalton – and about his knowledge of her whereabouts.
English is currently being held at the Lexington County Detention Center, according to authorities.
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Dalton had previously been reported missing after leaving her home in late November. At the time, investigators said the vehicle she left in – and a suitcase taken from her residence – had been recovered, prompting concerns about her safety due to her age and the length of time she was missing.
LCSD has not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding Dalton’s disappearance or her recovery.
FITSNews will continue to follow developments in this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Erin Parrott is a Greenville, S.C. native who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2025 with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism. Got feedback or a tip for Erin? Email her here.
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2 comments
LCSO better get ready to pay the young man, there is no basis for the charge they made. You are not obligated to be honest with the police, sounds like they charged him because he made them look stupid and inept or they succumbed to pressure from the girls family. Maybe they should look into why she chose to leave in the first place. Maybe it was “love” or maybe there was something happening at home, one never knows
I kind of wondered about that too, AC. Sounds like a possible violation of his 5th Amendment rights, or just none of their business.