Columbus, Ga. (February 2, 2024)— Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Cpl. Maximus Raniero and Deputy Stephanie Culberson with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office the organization’s First Friday Heroes for the month of February.

Cpl. Raniero came across some concerning chirps at the Muscogee County Jail. Chirps are monitored text messages from inmates, who can pay to text their family. Cpl. Raniero sent the information to Deputy Culberson to take a closer look.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that inmates within the Muscogee County Jail were chirping with a registered sex offender, who lived in the state of New York, about inappropriate contact with minors and plans to kidnap two small children for human trafficking. The findings were turned over to Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, which resulted in the arrest of a local woman on Human Trafficking charges. The woman had planned to take the two small children to New York to meet the registered sex offender, who was also arrested.

Thanks to the diligence of Cpl. Raniero and Deputy Culberson, they were able to safeguard the children from sexual abuse and a possible tragic end.

A ceremony with Cpl. Raniero, Deputy Culberson as well as hospital and sheriff’s office leadership will be held on Tuesday, February 6 at 10 a.m. at Piedmont Columbus Regional’s Midtown Campus Conference Center to commend them for their response. Their story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

“Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.