Mike Grant Jr., 38, was running late and headed to his usual hunting spot down a dirt road to an undeveloped parcel where, he said, he wanted to relieve the stress of daily life. He chose that spot by chance, as opposed to others he frequents.

He was hunting deer but found something bigger when he came across the green Dodge pickup truck he had heard so much about the past two days.

Police in three states were searching for Gary Traynham, 38, who they say abducted 2-year-old Hailey from her mother’s home in Sanford. Hailey was the subject of Maine’s first Amber Alert. Grant had heard the alert and knew when he came upon the vehicle what he had found.

“I knew what it was when I saw her stand up in her seat,” he said.

Grant calmly walked up to the car and started a dialogue with Gary Traynham. Though he carried a firearm with him for hunting, he never had to raise it, as it was quickly apparent that Traynham was ready to give up his brief life on the run.

“He started crying right away,” Grant said. He and Traynham talked about life for about an hour. Grant said Traynham was unarmed and hiding in that spot since before daylight broke Tuesday. He was nearly out of money, out of gas and had nowhere to go. Grant learned Traynham has a 13-year-old child, was married once and Hailey’s mother was his girlfriend. Traynham’s face was also scratched up, indicating to Grant that he had been involved in some sort of family dispute.

While they talked, Hailey played with her father’s cell phone, which was missing its battery that had died. Grant said they seemed fairly comfortable; Hailey was talkative, cried a bit and asked for her mother, he said.

As he listened to Traynham speak about his life, police helicopters flew over their location a couple of times, apparently unaware their suspect had been located. Grant managed to convince Traynham to come out of hiding for the good of himself and his daughter.

“I told him to be a man about it,” Grant said, telling Traynham, “I can’t let you leave.”

Grant dismissed claims that some would consider him a hero, but his family chimed in their support as he explained the day’s events near a wood pile outside his residence in Milton.

“He’s awesome,” 13-year-old David said as he jumped up and down. His older sister, Amanda, 15, agreed and said she was happy that Hailey was safe. When asked if it made her proud, Grant’s wife Donna said, “I’m proud of him, anyway.”

Grant said police joked with him that he might have a career as a police negotiator. In reality, he works in building facilities.

After convincing Traynham to leave his truck, Grant drove him to the home of retired Wakefield Police Chief Timothy Merrill, who Grant knew through hunting education courses.

Federal, state and local authorities converged on the Route 153 residence, where they quickly took Traynham into custody. The lights from cruisers were the only illumination on the road, which had no streetlights. Many cars drove past the scene, sometimes twice, and occupants could be seen craning their necks to determine why a convoy of cruisers was parked along the road.

Hailey’s family members also arrived at the scene, including aunt and uncle Raylene and Ron Gould of East Wakefield. They said they were simply relieved that she was safe. “Thank goodness for the Amber Alert, because it works,” Raylene Gould said.

After speaking with people inside the home for a couple of hours, an unmarked vehicle with flashing blue lights pulled up to the front door. Hailey was seen quickly escorted into the vehicle. Milton Police Chief Mark McGowan said EMTs briefly checked on her in the house, determined she was OK and had her transported to Sanford Police.

The Amber Alert went into effect Monday afternoon when it was broadcast over an emergency television channel. Signs of the alert were visible everywhere, from the state, local and federal authorities positioned along Route 11 Tuesday to the electronic construction signs that displayed messages about the green Dodge’s license plate number.

Cruisers were stationed as far south as the state liquor store in Farmington up to the Alton traffic circle.

After a police radio broadcast indicated the FBI had information Traynham might have a pilot’s license, police in Rochester increased patrols around Skyhaven Airport, Lt. Paul Toussaint said.

McGowan said Traynham was being held at Strafford County jail on a felony fugitive from justice charge. He is to be arraigned in Rochester District Court on Thursday. Warrants out of Maine indicate he is wanted on charges of gross sexual assault and burglary, McGowan said.

Traynham and Hailey’s mother were ending their relationship and he allegedly assaulted her in her Sanford home Monday morning. He then allegedly took his daughter and led police on the two-day manhunt, which featured officers investigating each possible sighting and even employing helicopters to search.

McGowan echoed the statements of others when he said that Grant “deserves a lot of credit” for his efforts. He also said the end result shows the Amber Alert system works.

According to The Associated Press, Hailey Traynham and her mother were reunited Tuesday night in Sanford. Police have identified the girl’s mother but The
Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims in sexual assault
cases.

Story reprinted with permission of Foster’s Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.