DECATUR, AL — A missing 15-year-old girl from Decatur was found safe after authorities spent several days looking for her, and a former Tennessee deputy now faces charges tied to the case. Decatur police said the teen had run away last week before being located.
Huntsville NBC affiliate WAFF reported that Brian Schalk was arrested and charged with statutory rape and harboring. White County, Tennessee, Sheriff Steve Page confirmed that Schalk is a former deputy with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities said local deputies worked with the FBI during the search, and investigators used Flock cameras to help find Schalk. Schalk is being held in the White County Jail.
Decatur police said the teenager was last seen near Summerwind Drive SE on Sept. 3
Before the girl was found, the Decatur Police Department asked the public to help locate Madeline McIntire. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said she was last seen Thursday, Sept. 3, around 7 p.m. in the area of Summerwind Drive SE.
Police said the teen was 15 years old and believed to be in danger. The public notice included a description of what she was wearing when she disappeared: a black tank top and sweats.
Officials also urged anyone with information to contact Decatur police at 256-341-4660 or call 911. That search request remained active until authorities later confirmed she had been safely located.
How investigators tracked the case with help from cameras and federal agents
White County Sheriff Steve Page said deputies did not work alone. He said his office coordinated with the FBI while trying to locate both Schalk and the teen.
Authorities also credited Flock cameras with helping investigators. The camera network is commonly used by law enforcement to search for vehicles or develop leads, and officials said it played a role in finding Schalk in this case.
The sheriff’s comments suggest the search expanded beyond a local missing-person effort once investigators identified a possible criminal angle. By the time Schalk was arrested, the teen had already been found safe.
Charges against Brian Schalk center on statutory rape and harboring
WAFF reported that Schalk was charged with statutory rape and harboring. The arrest followed the search for the missing teen, though authorities did not publicly describe every step that led to the charges.
Page identified Schalk as a former deputy with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department. That connection makes the case especially notable because it involves a former law enforcement officer now accused of crimes in connection with the girl’s disappearance.
Officials have not released additional details about the allegations, and no court outcome has been reported. For now, the confirmed facts are the arrest, the charges, and the fact that the girl was found safe.
The teen had been the focus of a public missing-person alert in Alabama
McIntire’s disappearance prompted a public safety response across Alabama and Tennessee. Her case was first circulated as a missing-person alert, with police warning that she could be in danger.
Public tips became part of the search effort, and the alert gave people a clear picture of who investigators were trying to locate. The notice identified her by name, age and last known location, which helped broaden awareness beyond Decatur.
Once the teen was located, Decatur police confirmed the good news and shifted attention to the criminal charges filed in the aftermath. That change marked the end of the immediate search, but not the end of the case.
What is known now about the arrest and jail status in White County
Authorities said Schalk is being held in the White County Jail. Beyond that, they have not publicly shared a detailed booking timeline or any court schedule in the information released so far.
White County Sheriff Page’s comments indicate the arrest happened after investigators narrowed down the search with help from state, federal and local resources. The involvement of the FBI and the use of camera technology show how quickly a missing-person case can turn into a broader criminal investigation.
At this stage, the most important development is that the teen was found safe. The remaining questions center on how the relationship began, what led to the alleged offenses, and how prosecutors will handle the case going forward.
Why the case drew attention beyond Decatur and northern Alabama
Cases involving missing teens often attract urgent public interest, but this one also drew attention because of Schalk’s former role as a deputy in Tennessee. That detail connected the investigation to two states and brought in multiple agencies.
The case also showed how public alerts, camera systems and federal-local cooperation can come together in a search. Decatur police, Alabama state authorities, White County deputies and the FBI all played a part in the response.
With the teen recovered safely and Schalk in custody, the investigation has moved from a search for a missing child to a criminal case that will likely continue through the court process. Officials have not announced any further details.
Key facts from the search and arrest
Madeline McIntire, 15, was reported missing from Decatur after last being seen Sept. 3 near Summerwind Drive SE.
Decatur police said she was later found safe after running away last week.
Brian Schalk, a former Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department deputy, was arrested and charged with statutory rape and harboring.
White County deputies worked with the FBI, and Flock cameras helped investigators locate Schalk.
Schalk is being held in the White County Jail.
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