Man who lured 11-year-old boy to campsite where he kidnapped him, tied him up with shoelaces and taped his mouth shut learns his fate

Inset: Darnell Hairston. Background: Cops in Florida arrest Hairston after he allegedly kidnapped an 11-year-old boy (Flagler County Sheriff's Office).

A 61-year-old Florida man who kidnapped an 11-year-old boy at a campsite and tied him up with shoelaces and duct tape will spend decades behind bars.

Darnell Hairston was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Wednesday, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said. He pleaded no contest last month to kidnapping of a child under 13, aggravated child abuse, battery by strangulation, robbery with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. He was adjudicated guilty.

"This was one of the most successful 'See Something, Say Something' cases we've ever had — it led to the recovery of a missing child and the next three decades behind bars for the sex offender that was responsible. Of course, we're still waiting for complete closure, as his co-conspirator's case is still ongoing, but this is an important first step," Sheriff Rick Staly stated.

"I commend the heroic citizen who saw something suspicious and reported it, everyone on our team who contributed during this investigation, and our partners at the State Attorney, Florida's 7th Circuit who prosecuted this case to ensure this monster got the prison sentence he deserved," Staly added.

The investigation began on Dec. 31, 2025, when the Flagler County Sheriff's Office received a call about Hairston, a sex offender, traveling with two juveniles, one of whom was reported missing three days earlier, the agency said in a press release. Deputies pulled over Hairston's pickup truck — which had a camper topper attached to it — on U.S. Highway 1 at Palm Coast Parkway. When he stopped, he rolled down his window and "extended both arms" outside the window, the press release said. He appeared "anxious and was unable to remain still," deputies noted.

One of the juveniles in the car appeared nervous, so cops had him step out of the truck to talk with him away from Hairston. As deputies were speaking with the boy, Hairston tried to run away but slipped and fell on the road, cops said. A deputy jumped on top of him and Hairston allegedly tried to take her gun as they were wrestling on the ground.

Other deputies intervened and Hairston was taken into custody. Meanwhile, the other juvenile allegedly drove away in the pickup. He was later arrested.

Detectives spoke with the 11-year-old boy, who told them a harrowing story.

"The 11-year-old victim was clearly traumatized and in fear," deputies wrote.

He said he had been kidnapped after he was lured to a campsite. Hairston allegedly choked him "until he lost consciousness." When the boy woke up, Hairston threatened him with a gun and knife before he tied him up with shoelaces and an extension cord and covered his mouth with duct tape, police said.

More coverage: Man lures 11-year-old boy to campsite where he chokes him, ties him up with shoelaces and tapes his mouth shut, cops say

Hairston allegedly held the boy at the campsite for multiple days and forced him to lie on the floorboard of his truck while covered with a blanket when the suspect drove.

Investigators searched the suspect's vehicle, home and campsite and found several items including duct tape, video surveillance equipment and weapons that were consistent with the victim's statements.

In an interview after receiving his Miranda rights, Hairston allegedly admitted he knew the boy was missing but never called cops.

Per Florida's sex offender registry, Hairston has previous convictions for lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under the age of 16 and false imprisonment.

Authorities also arrested a then-15-year-old boy as Hairston's co-conspirator in the kidnapping. That teen, Junior Bishop, is being charged as an adult and has a court hearing on Sept. 23.