Louisiana authorities announced over the weekend that they successfully located a missing teenage girl from Tennessee. They discovered her safe and sound, residing in a tent nestled amongst the woods.
A 14-year-old girl was engrossed in an online game when she encountered Alexander Materne, the alleged perpetrator. Authorities have charged Materne with several serious offenses, including contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, felony human trafficking, carnal knowledge, and aggravated kidnapping of a child.
According to reports, he allegedly abducted her from her residence on December 23rd. Authorities have not disclosed the specific location within Tennessee where the kidnapping occurred.
Materne allegedly took the girl to his residence in St. Rose, Louisiana, where they reportedly engaged in sexual activities. It was during this encounter that the girl informed Materne about her age, according to police.
Materne and the teenager departed from the St. Rose location. Materne acquired a tent, food, and water for the girl before leaving her in a forested region in Tangipahoa Parish.
After the incident, Materne decided to head to Jennings, Louisiana, to spend Christmas with his family. Concerned about their child’s safety, the teen’s family reached out to the Louisiana police and requested them to locate Materne in Jennings.
Materne was found at a relative’s house in Jennings, where he had been staying. When questioned about the whereabouts of the teenager, police stated that he willingly led detectives to the location where he had left the girl in Tangipahoa Parish.
After a thorough search, investigators successfully tracked her down in the dense woods. Concerned for her well-being, she was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for a comprehensive evaluation.