A 27-year-old Dallas man is behind bars after Galveston police say they found a missing 12-year-old girl in a Seawall-area hotel room with him last Friday. According to investigators, the child reported that the man forced her into his car while she was out walking her dog, gave her pills that made her feel woozy, and sexually assaulted her, with at least some of the conduct allegedly recorded on his phone. Officers booked the man on an aggravated kidnapping charge and said additional counts could follow as the investigation unfolds.
How officers tracked the girl
Authorities say the girl’s family alerted police when her dog returned home without her. Investigators traced the child’s phone to a hotel on Seawall Boulevard and reviewed surveillance footage that appeared to show the girl walking into a room with a man. When officers went to the room and the person inside did not open the door fully, they forced their way in and found the two together, according to court records and reporting by ABC13.
Victim's account
Court documents and police statements, as shared by CBS News, say the girl told investigators the man gave her two pills that made her feel dizzy. She reported that he touched her inappropriately and recorded the contact. When officers entered the room, they allegedly found the suspect wearing only boxer shorts and the child on a bed. Officials said the girl received medical attention and that investigators are continuing to collect evidence.
Suspect and prior allegations
Police identified the suspect as Graham Dunn, 27, of Dallas. Local reports state that Dunn had been free on bond in unrelated misdemeanor sexual battery and peeping cases while contesting a separate false imprisonment charge, and that the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office had an active warrant related to an insufficient bond in a family violence case. During a magistrate hearing, Dunn told the judge he had never previously faced a felony, but the judge called the new charge serious and set bond at $500,000, according to ABC13.
Charges and next steps
Dunn is currently booked on an aggravated kidnapping charge. Prosecutors told reporters they expect additional counts could be filed as they review video evidence and data from the suspect’s phone. Any decision to add assault or other sex-related charges will be reflected in upcoming court filings as the case moves through the Galveston County system. Police say the investigation remains active and that detectives are following up on leads, according to CBS News.
What officials advise
Galveston authorities are asking anyone who may have information or relevant footage tied to the incident to contact investigators so it can be reviewed as part of the case. Officials also urged parents and guardians to closely monitor young children near busy streets and to report suspicious behavior to law enforcement immediately.
