FBI Rescues Missing Ohio Teen After Multi-State Investigation
The FBI has reported that a 16-year-old girl, who had been missing for nearly a month, is now safely in custody after a multi-state investigation led to the arrest of a suspected kidnapper. The teenager was initially reported missing in Ohio on February 16 and was found in a hotel room near Jacksonville, Florida, last Friday.
Authorities have identified the suspect as a Tennessee man named Negron, with charges pending against him. Interestingly, investigators linked him to another kidnapping case from 2024 where he allegedly transported a 17-year-old girl in Texas for sexual purposes.
This case marks the second successful arrest in just a single week related to child sexual abuse, according to FBI reports.
FBI Director Praises Operation
FBI Director Kash Patel commended the coordinated operation among various agencies, including local law enforcement and a specialized hostage rescue team. He emphasized that protecting children from violent criminals remains a top priority for the FBI. “This case is a crowning achievement for the FBI, working with our great local partners. We acted quickly and brought in our best tactical units,” Patel stated, underscoring the swift response that likely saved the girl’s life.
This coordination involved field offices in Cincinnati, Nashville, and Jacksonville, which worked alongside local partners to resolve the situation effectively.
Investigation Details
Federal officials revealed that the girl, from Colerain Township, Ohio, was located after investigators tracked Negron’s movements. Although a search warrant was issued for his Tennessee home on the same day as the arrest, he had already fled. However, law enforcement managed to locate him in Palatka, Florida, where he was apprehended, and the girl was found unharmed nearby.
As of now, charges against Negron are pending, and while no instances of child sexual abuse have been confirmed, investigators are currently reviewing digital evidence.
The investigation uncovered Negron’s involvement in a separate incident from 2024 that also linked him to previous barricade situations with local law enforcement. Reports indicate he had a history of making threatening comments toward officers, and a shotgun was discovered in his residence. His criminal record includes misdemeanors such as theft, trespassing, and marijuana possession, although no charges were filed during the 2024 incident.
On Tuesday, the FBI met with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio to explore potential federal charges related to the allegations of transporting a minor for sexual acts.
Following his arrest in Jacksonville, Negron was extradited back to Tennessee. The FBI highlighted that this operation represents the second successful collaboration within a week aimed at apprehending a suspected child sexual abuser. Earlier, a different case had involved the rescue of a 13-year-old and a 7-month-old infant, showcasing the effective teamwork across its field offices.
