A 14-year-old girl from Mount Vernon was found safe in Michigan on Thursday. According to her, she had been missing from her home for nearly a month. fox news digital. The man who took her was 30-year-old Keith Freaksen, who was convicted in 2017 of possessing child pornography.
After reviewing the rideshare service’s history, authorities determined that the teen may have used the service to meet Freaksen on January 5th.
“Due to limited ride-sharing options in Mount Vernon, investigators were able to identify the specific vehicle that Mr. Ella may have been in,” authorities said. “Investigators were able to identify the subject, ‘Keith’, who ordered the rideshare for her and his address in South Haven, Michigan.”
According to the report, authorities said they had probable cause to charge the man with second-degree kidnapping because he purchased a vehicle to transport the teenage girl across state lines. .
After police found the girl, they immediately contacted her parents, who were reportedly “overjoyed” at the news.
Lt. Dave Shackleton of the Mount Vernon Police Department said, “It is thanks to her family, friends and the many people who showed concern and sympathy for her well-being that we were able to locate her safely. , the state government and government agencies.” Local law enforcement partners who cooperated when investigative leaders exceeded their jurisdiction or capabilities. ”
“We especially want to thank the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts in ultimately finding {her}.”
The girl’s mother had been working with friends to mail flyers about her daughter in the area, hoping to bring her back safely.mother Share with one outlet She said she believes her daughter was communicating with someone through social media leading up to her disappearance.
“Several of the children saw her talking to an adult man on the video on our computer,” the mother said. Her mother went on to say that she believes her daughter met the unknown man on a social platform called Omegle, which allows her daughter to meet random strangers.
According to reports, the site was shut down in November.
“It’s like roulette,” the boy’s mother said. “We just match you with random people.”
Freaksen is currently charged with first-degree criminal sexual assault, failure to register as a sex offender, and contributing to the delinquency of a child, according to reports.
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