Man accused of kidnapping woman in Statesboro, setting fires at motel where she stayed

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - The Statesboro Police Department arrested a man on kidnapping, stalking and arson charges after an anonymous tip led detectives to a victim and linked the suspect to three unsolved fires.

On May 27, the Statesboro Police Department received an anonymous tip and video clips from a concerned citizen. That citizen believed they had witnessed the abduction of a female who had been walking on South Main Street.

The video clips provided key information to detectives, helping them identify the vehicle used and its registered owner, Xavier Evans, 34, of Hephzibah.

Tracking the suspect

Detectives tracked Evans’s vehicle to Burke County and requested that Burke County deputies check Evans’s residence.

Once they got there, deputies made contact with a woman who confirmed that Evans had forced her into the vehicle in Statesboro. Police said the two were formerly in a romantic relationship, and the victim had moved to Statesboro several weeks prior to break ties with Evans.

After a brief confrontation with deputies, Evans was taken into custody.

Connection to arson cases

Further investigation linked Evans to three unsolved arson cases involving fires set at the Super 8 on Jameson Avenue in Statesboro. Police said the victim had been staying at the motel during that time period.

Evans was booked into the Bulloch County Jail on the following charges: kidnapping, arson in the first degree (three counts) and stalking. He remains in custody pending further judicial action.

Anyone with information on these cases should contact Captain Akins or Senior Detective Purvis at 912-764-9911 or submit an anonymous tip at https://statesboropd.com/ using the “Submit a Tip” link.