Haylee Donathan, Candace Watson Found at Twelve Tribes Ranch in California

June 24, 2009 by Saul Relative

San Diego Union-Times

Police Tipped to Haylee Donathan's Whereabouts by Twelve Tribes Resident Who Recognized Fugitives on a Billboard

Haylee Donathan, the 4-year-old Ohio girl that went missing May 28 with her mother and a convicted sex offender, was found Tuesday at the Morning Star Ranch ran by the Twelve Tribes in California, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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The nationwide search for Haylee Donathan, her mother Candace Watson, and sex offender Robbi Potter ended at a Christian ranch (the Twelve Tribes) outside Los Angeles after authorities followed up on a tip.

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Haylee Donathan was unharmed.

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A resident at the Twelve Tribes ranch, a Christian retreat, saw the pictures of Haylee Donathan and the two adults on a billboard and recognized them from the ranch. They immediately called the Twelve Tribes ranch manager, who checked the plates of the pickup the fugitives arrived in. After verifying the plates and that Candace Watson and Robbi Potter were indeed visitors at the ranch, the manager called 911.

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Police responded and found Haylee Donaldson unharmed and in good spirits, according to Deputy U.S. Marshal Omar Castillo. He added that she may have just gotten over the chicken pox but otherwise seemed fine. Haylee Donathan will be returned to Ohio and placed in custody of her grandmother, who was awarded emergency custody of the child as a precaution pending developments in the case.

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Castillo said the three had been at the Twelve Tribes Ranch for about a week. According to a second tipster, the three may have even visited a Wild Animal Park together a few days previous to their discovery and capture. The U. S. Marshall Service had a $10,000 reward posted to go to anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Haylee Donathan.

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The hunt for Haylee Donathan and her mother, Candace Watson, began on May 28, when Robbi Potter walked away from the halfway house he was assigned to in Mansfield, Ohio. Three people were later arrested for being involved in Potter's escape, including Haylee Donathan's father and uncle. The uncle, who served time in prison with Robbi Potter on sex offender charges, said he believed his niece could be in some form of danger.

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I think we were all ready for a happy ending. What a relief.

Missing: Haylee Donathan, 3 years old

June 10, 2009

examiner.com

Haylee Donathan is 3 years old and hasn’t been seen since May 28, 2009. The child is in the companionship of her mother, Candace Watson age 24, and registered sexual offender Robbi Douglas Potter, age 27.

Candace Watson allegedly met the sexual offender, Robbi Potter while he was in jail for sexual battery of a minor. He served less than three years for his crime and within hours of being released, disappeared with Watson and her 3-year-old daughter, Haylee Donathan.

Now, Crestline, Ohio police believe that Haylee’s life is in extreme danger and they are asking the public’s help in finding her.

Robbi Potter is not allowed to be around children and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. It is believed that Potter met Watson only several days before the three left for a supposed camping trip in the in Delaware County, Ohio.

Candace Watson’s grandmother states that she received a phone call from Watson on May 31, 2009, but no one has seen or heard from her or Haylee Donathan since. When Watson spoke with her grandmother she told her that they would be back from the trip a week ago. They never returned and no one has heard from them. Authorities believe that the trio might be headed as far away from Ohio as Arizona or Colorado.

Though Robbi Potter had been charged for sexual battery on a minor, he has a rather extensive rap sheet that includes charges that were dismissed. In 2002, Potter was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, that charge was ultimately dismissed. He faced two sexual battery charges in 2005, one charge of interference with custody, and was serving three years on three counts of sexual battery form 2002. Authorities state that Robbi Potter has served time in both federal and local prisons and jail.

No Amber Alert has been issued in the case because Haylee Donathan’s mother is traveling with them; she has legal custody. Authorities, however, want to emphasize that the child is in extreme danger, even though there has been no Amber Alert.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Haylee Donathan, Candace Watson, or Robbi Potter you are advised to contact your local law authorities or 911. Consider the suspects armed and dangerous and do not try to apprehend them yourself.

Look for dark/black 1988 Chevy pickup, yellow lights in a line across the top of the windsheild, Ohio plates ENS9729.