During the interview with the Mansfield News Journal, Cyle Watson admitted that his niece may be in danger.

Donathan was last seen on May 28 in Crestline, Ohio. Police believe the girl is with her mother, Candace Watson, and Robbi Potter, a registered sex offender who escaped from a halfway house in Richland County.

Earlier this week, investigators announced that Watson and two other people face charges in connection with helping Potter escape.

During the jailhouse interview, Watson explained how he became involved in the case.

Watson said that he goes way back with Potter, to the days when both served time in an Ohio prison for sexually abusing children, Connelly reported.

According to Watson, Potter owed him money from their days in prison together. Watson said he wanted revenge, so he promised to help Potter escape from the halfway house.

Watson claims that he hoped Potter would be caught during the escape and get in trouble.

"This is mind-boggling," Watson said. "It went from a trick and now things are really, really serious. It's like, this guy messed with this girl and there's a chance he might be messing with my niece."

Watson said his sister, Candace, met Potter for the first time on the day of his escape. He claims that she may be under Potter's control.

"(Potter's) a very, very manipulative person," Watson said. "You guys look at him in a picture and he looks like a regular person, but he's not. He's very manipulative."

In addition to Watson, the girl's birth father, James Donathan, and his girlfriend were charged with aiding Potter's escape, Connelly reported.

Investigators this week were checking possible leads near Phoenix, Ariz., after receiving tips that Haylee may be there, 10TV News reported.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is handling the search.

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Previous Stories:

June 11, 2009: Nationwide Search Under Way For Missing Girl
June 11, 2009: 3 Arrested In Connection To Missing Girl
June 9, 2009: Alert Issued For Missing Girl, 4

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