Current:Home > NewsMissing Ohio teen located in Florida after logging in to World of Warcraft account-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Missing Ohio teen located in Florida after logging in to World of Warcraft account
lotradecoin blockchain network compatibility View Date:2024-12-26 03:50:27
DUNNELLON, Fla. (AP) — A missing Ohio teen was recovered in Florida after she logged in to an online video game at the home of the man who took her, authorities said.
Thomas Ebersole, 31, was arrested last Wednesday at his Dunnellon home, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The area is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Tampa. Police in Lima, Ohio, about 80 miles ( 130 kilometers) northwest of Columbus, had reported the girl missing on Dec. 28.
The FBI had contacted the sheriff’s office earlier that day to request help in locating the missing 16-year-girl. Investigators determined that her World of Warcraft account had been used at a local address, which turned out to be Ebersole’s home, authorities said. His World of Warcraft account was also accessed at the location. World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game.
Investigators made contact with Ebersole at his home, and he initially denied knowing the girl, officials said. But he eventually admitted that he had driven to Ohio to meet the teen and brought her back to his home, authorities said. Ebersole also told investigators that he was in a romantic relationship with the girl and was going to hide her in his home until they could get married.
Ebersole provided detectives with online messages that further outlined his plans to meet the girl in Ohio and have sex with her, despite knowing that he was committing a crime, officials said.
Ebersole faces felony charges of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity and interfering with child custody, as well as a misdemeanor charge of sheltering an unmarried minor, according to jail records. He was being held on $6,000 bail. Jail records didn’t list an attorney for Ebersole.
veryGood! (69)
Related
- A weatherman had a panic attack live on air. What it teaches us.
- Fed Chair Powell says interest rate cuts won’t start until inflation approaches this level
- Gisele Bündchen Breaks Down in Tears Over Tom Brady Split
- Wyoming Considers Relaxing Its Carbon Capture Standards for Electric Utilities, Scrambling Political Alliances on Climate Change and Energy
- 'Business done right': Why the WWE-TNA partnership has been a success
- Chicago’s top cop says police are getting training to manage protests during the DNC
- TJ Maxx's Designer Bag Deals Are Fashion's Best-Kept Secret For Scoring Luxury Bags for Less
- Iditarod issues time penalty to Seavey for not properly gutting moose that he killed on the trail
- Don't be fooled by the name and packaging: Fruit snacks are rarely good for you. Here's why.
- Why Dean Phillips' primary challenge against Biden failed
Ranking
- Wally Amos, 88, of cookie fame, died at home in Hawaii. He lost Famous Amos but found other success
- Former deputy convicted of violated civil rights, obstruction of justice
- Maryland abortion clinics could get money for security under bill in state Senate
- Super Tuesday exit polls and analysis for the 2024 California Senate primary
- The Sunscreen and Moisturizer Duo That Saved My Skin on a Massively Hot European Vacation
- Foo Fighters, Chuck D, Fat Joe rally for healthcare transparency in D.C.: 'Wake everybody up'
- Concacaf Champions Cup Bracket: Matchups, schedule for round of 16
- Betty Ford forever postage stamp is unveiled at the White House
Recommendation
-
Justice Department defends Boeing plea deal against criticism by 737 Max crash victims’ families
-
Noah Lyles eyes Olympic sprint quadruple in Paris: 'I want to do all that'
-
Biden to call in State of the Union for business tax hikes, middle class tax cuts and lower deficits
-
Millie Bobby Brown Goes Makeup-Free and Wears Pimple Patch During Latest Appearance
-
US unemployment claims fall 7,000 to 227,000 in sign of resiliency in job market
-
Activists and members of Serbia’s LGBTQ+ community protest reported police harassment
-
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign donor says his Panera Bread restaurants will follow minimum wage law
-
Jury hears closing arguments in trial of armorer over fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin