Authorities Retrieve Missing South Carolina Teen in Florida, Alleged Abductor Apprehended
A 13-year-old girl from Simponville, South Carolina, who went missing on Sunday evening, was discovered in Florida on Tuesday, according to authorities. The Greenville County Sheriff's Office initially classified her as a "runaway" in social media posts.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office in the Florida Keys received intel suggesting that the suspected kidnapper, Tyler Michael Berlick of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, might be en route to their area. Deputies located both Berlick and the girl inside a pickup truck parked at a Key Largo shopping center early Tuesday. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has informed the Florida Department of Children and Families about the situation.
Berlick faces kidnapping charges and is presently detained without bond at the Monroe County Jail in Key West, as per online records. An arraignment date has not been finalized.
Miami ABC affiliate WPLG reported that Berlick awaits extradition to South Carolina. Authorities revealed that Berlick had initially connected with the girl through an "online chatting service and gaming app," according to WPLG.
The FBI spearheads the investigation into this incident.
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