Former stepfather of woman missing 10 years charged with sex offenses

Officers arrested the former stepfather of a woman missing since 2015 on sex offense charges and searched his property in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The missing woman is named as a victim.

On Dec. 5, 2015, Katelin Akens, who was 19 and had grown up in Spotsylvania, was supposed to fly home to Arizona after visiting family. She never made her flight.

Her former stepfather, James Branton, initially told investigators he dropped Akens off at Springfield Town Center so she could catch Metro to Reagan National Airport, but no evidence confirming that was found. Her luggage, however, was found two days later in a drainage ditch near Fredericksburg.

Branton was forthcoming at first, investigators said, but then stopped cooperating.

In a video announcing Branton’s arrest on sex offense charges, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office named Akens as a victim.

“Took James Branton into custody for sex-related offenses. One of his victims is Katelin Akens,” said Maj. Delbert Myrick of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. “Katelin went missing over 10 years ago. Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Katelin home to her family.”

Investigators with excavating equipment searched Branton’s rural property in Partlow. They hope the arrest will bring forward people who have knowledge that could help bring answers to Akens’ family, who live with the daily pain of not knowing.

“Please help us bring Katelin home to her family,” Myrick said.