Why did an AMBER Alert go out for Isaiah Owens?

Last updated: June 27, 2026, 2:38 PM

Families across the U.S. pay attention to AMBER Alerts because they are built for one urgent purpose: getting the public to help locate a missing child fast. In New Bern, North Carolina, authorities say 15-year-old Isaiah Kavon Owens was abducted at gunpoint from the Palace Motel early Saturday morning. Police are looking for Kenneth Lee Brantley and a black 2012 GMC Yukon with South Carolina license plate XFH752.

Isaiah is autistic and has a speech delay, details police released because they affect how the public and law enforcement may need to respond if he is found. Anyone who sees the vehicle, Isaiah, or Brantley is being told to call 911 or the New Bern Police Department at 252-633-2020, and authorities have warned the public not to approach Brantley.

Behind the Headlines

The case began in New Bern, a city in eastern North Carolina, where officers responded to the Palace Motel at 1901 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. around 3:15 a.m. Saturday after a report of a child abduction. Police said the alert was issued Saturday morning at the request of the New Bern Police Department, with WRAL reporting the alert time as 8:28 a.m..

According to accounts given to police, two adults were asleep in a motel room with two boys: Isaiah Owens, 15, and 13-year-old Kenneth Brantley Jr. They were awakened by banging at the door. When Larry Tompkins opened it, police said he encountered multiple people, including Kenneth Lee Brantley Sr., the father of Kenneth Brantley Jr.

AMBER Alert

A public emergency alert used when authorities believe a child has been abducted and public tips could help locate them.

BOLO

A “Be On the Lookout” notice shared with law enforcement and the public to help find a person, vehicle, or suspect.

The details released by police matter because they give the public specific, searchable information: a vehicle description, a license plate, clothing descriptions, and possible travel direction. In a case involving a child with autism and a speech delay, those identifying details can reduce confusion if someone spots him in a stressful setting.

Here's What Happened

Police said Brantley pointed a gun at Tompkins before taking both boys from the motel room. The group then left in a black 2012 GMC Yukon Denali XL with South Carolina license plate XFH752. Authorities said Brantley may be traveling to his residence in Marion, South Carolina.

New Bern police have obtained arrest warrants for Brantley in connection with the abduction and endangerment of Isaiah Owens, according to reports from WCTI and WITN. Police also said they are working with local, state, out-of-state and federal agencies to locate Isaiah and bring him home safely.

Isaiah is described as a Black male, 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 100 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and red-and-blue sneakers. That description has been repeated across several local outlets because it is the information people are most likely to need if they see him.

Descriptions of Kenneth Lee Brantley vary slightly across reports, with several outlets listing him as either 43 or 44 years old. He is described as a Black male with black hair and brown eyes, about 5 feet 2 inches tall and 162 pounds. ABC11 and WECT reported he was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with a colorful design and gray pants.

Voices & Opinions

The most direct public message from authorities is practical: call police, do not confront the suspect. New Bern police asked anyone with information to contact the department at 252-633-2020, call their local law enforcement agency, or dial 911 immediately.

That warning carries weight because police say a gun was used during the abduction. For readers who receive AMBER Alerts on their phones, the safest response is to compare only the key identifiers — the child’s description, the vehicle, the plate number, and the possible direction of travel — then pass information to law enforcement.

Several North Carolina outlets, including WRAL, WECT, and Spectrum News, published the same core details, which helps keep the public alert focused on verified identifiers rather than rumor.

The Bigger Picture

This case shows why AMBER Alerts are designed to move quickly across city and state lines. Police believe the vehicle may be headed from New Bern, North Carolina, toward Marion, South Carolina, so the search is not limited to one town or one police department.

For the public, the most important detail may be the vehicle: a black 2012 GMC Yukon Denali XL or GMC Yukon with South Carolina plate XFH752. Vehicle and plate information can be checked quickly by drivers, gas station workers, hotel staff, and others who may see a car pass through without knowing the people inside.

The disability details released by authorities also matter. Isaiah’s autism and speech delay mean he may not respond in a typical way if approached, questioned, or found in a public place. That is another reason police are asking people to call authorities rather than attempt contact themselves.

The Road Ahead

Police say arrest warrants have been obtained for Brantley, and the search involves local, state, out-of-state and federal law enforcement agencies. The AMBER Alert remains focused on finding Isaiah and the black GMC Yukon tied to the case.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or the New Bern Police Department at 252-633-2020. The public has also been advised not to approach Brantley.