Shed where girl was found 1,000 miles from home after ‘meeting abductor online’
‘This is becoming a major problem and this is how kids are sold into human trafficking,’ sheriff says
www.independent.co.uk
Missing Dallas teen is found locked in shed 1,000 miles from home after ‘meeting abductor online’
A missing 13-year-old girl from Dallas, Texas was found locked in a shed more than 1,000 miles away in North Carolina after she allegedly met her abductor online.The girl was found at a Lexington property on Friday, the same day Texas authorities were alerted to her disappearance, WGHP reported.
North Carolina officials on Monday announced the arrest 34-year-old Jorge Camacho, who is accused of grooming the girl after they met online and later in person.
Mr Camacho is alleged to have kidnapped and held her captive for “sexual servitude”.
The suspect faces eight felony charges, which include rape, indecent liberties with a child, and human trafficking.
He’s in jail and his bond has been set at more than $1m.
Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons said at a press briefing that “they discovered that the juvenile had been communicating with an adult male through social media chat platforms. The content of the chat was consistent with grooming and enticement, and he enticed her to leave home where he picked her up in the (Dallas) area”.
The mother of the 13-year-old told WFAA that Mr Camacho and the girl had met while playing an online video game and that they had texted via the app Discord. She said they had spoken for a period of months.
The mother, only named as Esthela, told the local TV station that “it was very stressful and scary. We were hoping to see her again and thank God that was the case”.
Investigators were tipped off of Mr Camacho’s whereabouts on 10 March and a traffic stop was conducted. His vehicle was spotted on surveillance footage filmed near the apartments in Dallas where the girl was kidnapped.
Sheriff Simmons said they located the girl locked in a shed at the North Carolina property. She was taken to hospital and has now returned home.