A teenager who went missing for 23 days has been rescued more than 500 miles away at the home of her 41-year-old kidnapper.
The 15-year-old was rescued by authorities at a home in Marthasville, Missouri, nine hours away from her hometown of Brooklyn, Ohio, Fox 8 reported.
Police found the girl being held against her will by Christopher Schroeder, 41, who is being held in a Missouri jail.
The teenager went missing from her parents’ home at around 7:15pm on November 8 while walking the family dog.
Schroader is understood to have picked the teenager up in his car after the pair met on the social media app Kik, according to 5 KSDK news.
Soon after kidnapping her, Schroader forced the girl to remove the SIM card from her phone, which he broke into pieces.
Schroader also ordered the girl to clean his house, not use the phone or internet unless asking him first and to change her appearance by cutting her hair and losing weight, according to court documents.
During a search of Schroader’s home, police found video evidence he had engaged in sexual intercourse with the girl.
Schroeder faces federal charges of production of child pornography and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. In Warren County, he is facing a second-degree statutory rape charge.
Missouri police said they are working with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to investigate the incident, New York Daily News reports.
Several vigils were held for the teen by her family and friends, and the actor Nicolas Cage held her missing poster for a photo while filming in Lorain County.
