Dad allegedly beat up a family member, then abducted his 4-year-old daughter

Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Colleen Hammond
·1 min read

An Amber alert has been canceled for a Durham 4-year-old girl believed to have been abducted by her father.

The Durham Police Department issued the alert on Monday evening. Mitchell Grayson, 37, is accused of possibly taking his daughter, Paisley Grayson, in a gray 2000 Chevrolet Astro van three days ago.

Grayson allegedly broke into a home in the 800 block of Angier Avenue in Durham on Saturday and physically assaulted one of the child’s family members before taking the girl.

On Monday night, Mitchell turned himself in at Durham Police headquarters. He has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault, breaking and entering and injury to personal property.

Durham police said Mitchell will be interviewed before being transported to the Durham County Jail.

Paisley Grayson appeared to be unharmed, according to Durham police.

The Durham Police Department issued a Amber Alert for Mitchell Grayson, 37, who is accused of possibly taking his daughter in a gray 2000 Chevrolet Astro van.
The Durham Police Department issued a Amber Alert for Mitchell Grayson, 37, who is accused of possibly taking his daughter in a gray 2000 Chevrolet Astro van.

Details on Astro van used in abduction

The vehicle Paisley Grayson was taken in was a Chevrolet Astro van with a North Carolina license plate of HFS-7433.

The vehicle has writing on the back that reads “take a picture, it will last longer,” according to a news release.

“After further investigation, more information became available about the case and it was determined an Amber Alert needed to be issued,” Durham police investigators told ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner.

Mitchell threatened to take the child out of state, police said.