UPDATE: Police: Abducted Valdosta child found safe; arrest made

Published 10:30 am Wednesday, August 4, 2021

VALDOSTA — A child reported by police as abducted in Valdosta Tuesday has been found safe and an arrest made, police said Wednesday.

Teka Chatman, age 22 months, was located and was in the care of the state of Florida Wednesday, a Valdosta Police Department statement said.

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Her non-custodial mother, Nizziria Chatman, 25, of Valdosta, has been charged with felony kidnapping, pollice said.

“We are proud of our detectives who worked around the clock to bring this case to a positive conclusion,” said police Lt. Scottie Johns.

Teka was taken without permission by her mother during a supervised visit, the police said.

Teka and her mother were last seen leaving the Valdosta Mall on foot around 12:09 p.m. Aug. 2, police said.

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VALDOSTA — Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing toddler.

Around 1:53 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the Valdosta Mall after receiving an E911 call about a missing child, a Valdosta Police Department statement said.

Officers were told that Teka Chatman, age 22 months, was taken without permission by her non-custodial mother during a supervised visit, the statement said.

Teka and her mother were last seen leaving the mall on foot around 12:09 p.m., police said.

Teka, an African-American girl, was last seen wearing a light blue shirt with gold designs, pink shorts and pink shoes. Her hair was in a braided type of hairstyle.

Her mother — an African-American woman identified by the police as Nizziria Chatman, 25, of Valdosta — was last seen wearing a beige shirt, black and white pants, and black-and-white slide-type shoes, the statement said. Her hair was braided and pulled back in a bun-type style.

Nizziria currently has an active arrest warrant for her regarding this case, police said.

Anyone with information about this case should call 911 immediately.

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.