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Reporter: [Dara Rees]

Family says missing man accused of rape is innocent

Johnny Eugene Fairchild is accused of raping a 13 year old girl in August of last year. Family members say he did not do it and Fairchild feared an unfair trial.

"I'd stand in the church house and say he's not guilty." Johnny Eugene Fairchild's mother, Ruby Fairchild says her son never raped the 13 year old girl, a charge he was supposed to face in court early this week.

She says, "We went to court, the last time he had to go, this Monday we went there and he wasn't there, and I knew something was wrong."

His mother-in-law Ruth Reynolds says, "My daughter got up and found a note on his pillow." She says it was a suicide note.

Ruby Fairchild says, "He said 'Mommy, I was scared' because he's never been in trouble in his life and he's 43 years old, and now he's worse than trouble."

She says Johnny Eugene Fairchild asked for her for advice about whether or not to show up in court, because he felt he would not get a fair trial in Johnson County. His mother said she didn't know what to tell him. "He didn't think he had a fighting chance. The way they wouldn't move his trial. He said 'Mommy, I'm already guilty. They're charging me with it, and I'm not guilty'."

Now family members have no idea where fairchild is or if he is even alive.

"I don't know honey, I don't know. I wish to God I did, but I don't know," says Ruby Fairchild.

Reynolds says, "I love him, I miss him. His babies and his wife miss him. We'd like to have him back."

An arrest citation says Fairchild admitted to raping the girl, but his family claims he was pressured into confessing. Police say Fairchild will still face the rape charges when he is found. They say he will also face charges for not showing up in court.


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