A Gainesville man remained in the Forsyth County Jail Wednesday, charged with transporting a teenager across state lines without parental permission.
Cpl. Doug Rainwater with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said George Steven Barnes, 46, gave Ryan Haley a ride to Tennessee last month. On March 31, 10 days after Haley was reported missing, the 16-year-old was founded dead in a wooded area in Monroe County, TN.
Rainwater said authorities do not believe Barnes had anything to do with the teen's death, however.
"I think the 16-year-old told Mr. Barnes he just needed to get away for awhile, so Mr. Barnes intention was just to drive this 16-year-old to Tennessee and that was it," Rainwater said. "The are no [indications] whatsoever that we believe he had anything to do with his death.
Barnes apparently is the uncle of one of Haley's friends.
Rainwater said Monroe County, TN authorities told local officials there is no sign of foul play in the death. Haley's body will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but Rainwater said it may be next week before they get results.
An obituary for Haley said the teen was an 11th grader at Mountain Educational Charter School.
