DYER COUNTY – A joint investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and multiple law enforcement partner agencies has resulted in the arrest of a Newbern man in connection to the kidnapping and attempted rape of a child.
At the request of 29th Judicial District Attorney Danny Goodman, TBI agents joined investigators from the Newbern Police Department, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and it’s task force members in investigating a kidnapping that occurred early Wednesday morning in Newbern. Through the course of the investigation, agents learned that the 10-year-old victim was forcibly taken from her home, threatened, and assaulted. During the abduction, the child was able to briefly escape before the suspect caught up with her again. In that moment of escape, she sought help from a nearby neighbor, whose quick actions helped save her life. The unknown abductor fled the area on foot, and law enforcement was immediately notified.
As the investigation progressed, evidence was collected and submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab for DNA testing to include Rapid DNA processing. Based on the Rapid DNA results, information was developed resulting in the arrest of Steven Devonte Harris (DOB: 12/21/95).
Harris was arrested Wednesday night and charged with two counts of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, two counts of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Burglary and Attempted Rape of a Child. He was booked into the Dyer County Jail.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
