TERRE HAUTE —
Authorities are breathing a sigh of relief now that they have located a 12-year-old girl who had been reported as missing since Sunday.
The 12-year-old, described as being in good health, apparently left her northern Vigo County home “on her own free will,” said Clark Cottom, chief deputy with the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department. She was found at a residence on Terre Haute’s northside around 12:30 p.m. today.
In a related development, an 18-year-old male who identified himself as the girl’s “friend,” Brandon Bennett, has been arrested on two allegations of child molesting, a class-B felony, Cottom said outside the Vigo County Jail. The arrest occurred about 2:30 p.m.
Bennett remains in the jail; no bail has been set at this time. He is expected in court on Friday.
The investigation is continuing.
Investigators believe the 12-year-old had been with Bennett since Sunday, again “on her own free will.”
According to Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing, the girl was located after a homeowner called police to report her presence. The homeowner was Bennett’s father.
The 12-year-old reportedly gave the homeowner a false name and age while staying there with Bennett, Cottom said. After the homeowner heard about the missing person’s case on local media, he reportedly found a picture and description of the 12-year-old online and called police.
“We want to find out exactly what happened and why she left home,” Ewing told media earlier this afternoon outside the home where the girl was found.
But more importantly, “We’re glad she’s okay,” he said.
The sheriff’s department issued a countywide alert late Tuesday about the missing girl, who was last seen about 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at her family’s home in Howard Subdivision. The alert using the Code Red system contacted all landline telephones in Vigo County with information concerning the missing girl.
On Wednesday, a multi-agency team was involved in both a ground and air search in the north-central Vigo County residential neighborhood where the girl’s family lives.
Those involved included the sheriff’s department, FBI, Indiana State Police, Terre Haute Police Department and Vigo County Emergency Management.
The Sheriff’s Department said the decision was made to issue an Indiana Missing Teen report late Tuesday at the urging of the child’s parents. The girl initially was reported as a runaway, but after she did not turn up with friends or at school, her status was changed.
By reclassifying the case, “We were able to bring in other agencies,” Cottom said.
The 12-year-old, who was with Child Protective Services this afternoon, was also questioned by investigators and is expected to be re-united with her parents.
“We are very satisfied we found her safe and alive,” Cottom said.
Authorities had submitted subpoenas to Facebook and the girl’s cell phone company to look at messaging, chats and text messages.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Good hands: A 12-year-old girl, center, talks with sheriff's deputies after she had been found in a house in the 2900 block of Fenwood Avenue in Terre Haute Thursday. (Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis)
Discussion
Police say missing/found girl had willingly left home
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