UPDATE — 1/6/26 at 9:58 p.m. ET: Mackenzie Dalton is no longer missing, after being located safely by police — and the mystery man she was with has been arrested.
Dalton, 16, was brought back to Lexington County, authorities said in a statement. “We have no reason to believe Dalton was ever held against her will or with someone she didn’t want to be with,” reads the statement.
“We have arrested Mackenzie Keith English, Jr., 18, in connection with this case,” it added. “He is charged with obstruction of justice. He is accused of lying to investigators about being with Dalton and his knowledge of her location.”
English is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center, police said.
Original story:
Police in South Carolina are reaching out to the public for help finding an endangered teen who has not been seen since late November 2025.
In a statement that was issued on Friday, January 2, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said that 16-year-old Mackenzie Dalton is believed to be in the company of a man she allegedly knows.
Police, who were unavailable to answer Us Weekly’s questions, have not provided that man’s name or described the suspect physically.
Deputies have been searching for Dalton since she was last seen leaving her Lexington home in late November. Police said Dalton is a runaway.
Dalton stands at 5-foot-4 and weighs approximately 118 pounds, according to police. She has long blonde hair and light eyes. Police did not say what she may have been wearing the last time she was seen.
According to Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies, both the car that Dalton drove off in, as well as the suitcase she was seen carrying when she left her home, have been found. Investigators have not shared where her possessions were found but have reiterated that Dalton remains missing.
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Authorities also said that they believe that Dalton is in danger, due to her age and the length of time she has been missing. The age of the man she is traveling with was not provided by police.
The sheriff’s department did not say if foul play is suspected in Dalton’s disappearance. At this point, they also could not determine if a specific crime was committed connected to Dalton’s disappearance.
Anyone who may have seen Dalton or can provide information on her whereabouts is being urged to share that info anonymously by using the Crimestoppers mobile app or by calling (888) 274-6372.
Investigators said that even details you may consider insignificant could help them reunite Dalton with her family and ensure she’s safe.
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Anyone who believes they have immediate or time-sensitive information is encouraged to contact local law enforcement without delay by dialing 911.
In South Carolina, over 2,500 people go missing each year and the state has a high rate of missing children, with many cases going unsolved for long periods, with runaways like Dalton making up a significant portion.
In 2023, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reported over 200 missing children, and, in 2022, SLED said there were over 200 children reported missing.
The man Dalton is believed to be traveling with could be facing jail time in South Carolina, where kidnapping is classified as a felony. A kidnapping conviction in the state carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years. The state does not differentiate sentencing based on aggravating factors, though judges have discretion within this range.
If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at tips.fbi.gov
