Mom of former missing Newton teen speaks out

NEWTON, Ala. (WDHN)—15-year-old Austin Barefield and 17-year-old Violet Gray have been found safe after going missing for nearly a week, and spending days in the woods.

According to the boy’s mother Whitney Bankston, the two teens met sometime last year when Austin was visiting his father.

But the two would allegedly run into trouble with the law.

Bankston says Violet and her son got in a car and went for a joyride, but got pulled over.

Neither had their license and a judge ordered them to stay away from each other.

But Bankston says the two stayed in contact and even met up with each other weeks before their disappearance.

“Not last week, but the week before, Violet had actually run away again; and came here,” Bankston says. “She was arrested here two weeks ago.”

According to Austin’s mom, Violet got into a car and drove to Newton, last Thursday, to meet with Austin.

Bankston says that once Violet allegedly ran out of gas, the teen left the car in Midland City.

Austin then got two friends to take him and Violet to a nearby county road, where they went into the woods.

But after days in the woods, the two went to a family friend’s home for food.

The friend told Bankston what happened, and she took the teens to her home.

Both were taken to a divergent center by Newton police.

Bankston says her son may be sorry for running away, but he is not sorry for his feelings towards Violet.

“He said, mama, I’m sorry that I’m putting you, my brother, my sister, and my stepdad through all of this, Bankston said. “He said I just love her.”

Both teens will be held in the Divergent Center until they are transferred to Florida for questioning.

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