Possible Kidnapped Victim Found at Waffle House With People She Says She Met Online

NEWBERRY S.C. (WOLO)- Newberry Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating after a possible kidnapped victim was found at a waffle house with people she says she met online.

Newberry County Sheriff’s Deputies and Newberry City Police responded to the Waffle House on SC Hwy. 34 near I 26 to locate a possible kidnapping victim.
Law Enforcement received a call from the Richmond, Ga Sheriff’s Office that a kidnapping victim may be located in the restaurant with several adults.

Newberry City Police Officers and Sheriff’s Deputies found the 12 year old girl inside the restaurant eating with two adult females and an 11 year old child.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the two juveniles had met on a YouTube Channel and had been conversing for approximately a year through that social media site along with Skype. The 12 year old from Georgia convinced the 11 year old and her mother that it was permissible for them to come to Georgia and take her back to their home in Wisconsin to live. The 12 year old arranged the meeting and began to travel back to Wisconsin and made it to Newberry County and were able to be located by Richmond County, Ga authorities.
Newberry County Sheriff’s Deputies and Richmond County, Ga investigators are continuing the investigation to verify stories. It is currently being handled as a runaway situation.

Sheriff Lee Foster said this is a prime example on how the internet can be used improperly and unsafely.

“If their stories hold true, neither party really knew the other until they came into physical contact with one another,” Foster said.  “It very well could have been an adult that wished to do them harm. This could have been a very dangerous situation. The internet is a very dangerous place. Anyone can pose as anybody and can say what they want. Just because it is on the internet, it doesn’t have to be true. Regardless of the situation, the adults should have done a whole lot more to verify the juveniles story.”

The investigation is continuing to verify statements and to verify there was no criminal kidnapping. The Sheriff commended the Waffle House for their cooperation in this investigation.