Jailhouse Interview: Why 18-Year-Old Says He Went On The Run With 13-Year-Old Girlfriend (VIDEO)

Dalton Hayes, 18, and his 13-year-old girlfriend made headlines in January when they allegedly embarked on an interstate crime spree. Dubbed the modern “Bonnie and Clyde” by the media after they left their small, western Kentucky hometown and allegedly evaded police for two weeks, Dalton maintains he only left Kentucky to protect his girlfriend, who he says told him she was being abused at home, an allegation her family absolutely and completely denies.

In the video above, Dalton tells Dr. Phil, “I want people out there to know that I did not do it to hurt her; I did it to keep her safe. Because not only then did I love her, but today, I still love her. I want people to know that I did not do it against her will. I did not force her to leave. She’s the one who said she was running, and I could not let her go by herself.”

The Huffington Post