PAW PAW, Mich. — A teenager missing from Ohio has been found safe in West Michigan.
On Friday, troopers from the Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post were contacted by the Hamilton Ohio Police Department regarding a missing 13-year-old girl.
The Ohio agency sought the assistance of MSP to locate the victim, who was thought to be in Van Buren County, based on her social media postings.
During the MSP investigation, it was determined that a 25-year-old man from Texas had befriended the 13-year-old on Facebook and had made arrangements to meet with her. The 25-year-old suspect drove to Ohio, met with the teen and subsequently took her to a home in Paw Paw where they stayed for a week.
The girl was located safe Friday night in the Portage area, in the company of the 25-year-old Texas man.
The 13-year-old was returned to her grandparents.
The 25-year-old Texas man was arrested on 21 felony counts including sexual assault, solicitation of a minor for immoral purposes and possession of sexually abusive material. He is being held in the Van Buren County Jail and is awaiting arraignment Monday.
The man’s identity will not be released until he has been arraigned in court.
