CLAY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities reported on Thursday that a missing juvenile is safe and a suspect is in custody.
Last weekend, police in the Kansas City suburb of Kearney located a missing juvenile who had been taken from Illinois, according to a media relase.
On Sunday evening, located a vehicle in a local gas station parking lot associated with the missing juvenile. The juvenile had reportedly been taken from Illinois by a 22-year-old adult male she had met online. The man had traveled from California to Illinois to meet the juvenile before bringing her to the Kansas City, Missouri area.
Officers were able to safely locate the girl, reunite her with her family, and take the man into police custody.
Working alongside law enforcement partners in Illinois, the 22-year-old was subsequently charged with Felony Child Abduction and Felony Solicitation to Meet a Minor. He is currently being held in jail while awaiting extradition back to Illinois.
A reminder to parents and guardians: Online interactions can sometimes lead to dangerous situations. Please continue having conversations with your children about online safety, who they communicate with, and the importance of never meeting someone they have only interacted with online without a trusted adult’s knowledge.