A missing 14-year-old girl from Mount Vernon, Washington, was discovered in the home of a registered sex offender in South Haven, Michigan, ending a weeks-long search that spanned over 2,000 miles, the Mount Vernon Police Department announced her recovery, noting she had been missing since January 6 and was found unharmed.
The teen vanished early January and the search led investigators to Keith Freerksen, 30, who is listed on Michigan's Sex Offender Registry for a 2017 conviction for possession of child pornography out of Florida, information obtained by The Detroit News reveals, during her time missing her mother and others in the community posted fliers and stirred social media in an effort to locate her, expressing belief she was communicating with someone she met through social media as per interviews conducted by KING, a sister station of 13 ON YOUR SIDE.
The girl's odyssey reportedly began with a ride-share service, scarce in the Mount Vernon area, leading to a critical breakthrough when police were able to trace a particular ride they believe she took, according to information from ABCNews4, her mother had previously reported the teen had allegedly voluntarily left her home, stirring fears and amplifying the urgency of her situation.
Upon discovery, Freerksen was arrested at his residence near Blue Star Memorial Highway and faces multiple charges including second-degree kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, failure to comply with registration act for sex offenders, and contributing to the delinquency of a child, the complexity of the case compounded by the crimes spanning multiple states, meaning official charges are being coordinated by involved agencies, Mount Vernon police detailed efforts spanning federal, state and local law enforcement that concluded with the teen's safe return and expressed gratitude particularly to the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office for their decisive role, the girl's elated parents were immediately notified of her safe recovery according to announcements collected from both 13 ON YOUR SIDE and ABCNews4.
