PANAMA CITY, Fla. — The drama surrounding two teenage sweethearts on the run from the law ended quietly and unceremoniously in a Florida beach town.
Dalton Hayes, an 18-year-old suspected of committing a string of crimes with his 13-year-old girlfriend, agreed during a quick Monday morning court hearing to return to his home state of Kentucky to face charges.
Hayes and his girlfriend Cheyenne Phillips were arrested late Saturday night in Panama City Beach by the U.S. Marshal’s Service and local police after being found sleeping in a stolen vehicle.
During a first appearance hearing Bay County Judge Shane Vann said “here’s the deal” to Hayes: He could agree to return to Kentucky, or stay in jail while authorities went through a formal extradition process.
“I’ll sign the papers so I can go back to Kentucky,” Hayes said during the brief proceeding held via a video link-up between the Bay County Jail and the Bay County Courthouse. Hayes appeared fidgety during the start of the brief hearing, but responded quickly to Vann. He signed his paperwork while Vann watched and then was taken out of view back into the jail.