Police found a missing 13-year-old teen from South Carolina in the early hours of Tuesday, February 13, 2024, in Florida. They revealed that a 35-year-old man from Wisconsin allegedly kidnapped her. Furthermore, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office shared that they found the young girl in Key Largo, Florida.
She was reportedly inside a Dodge Ram belonging to the suspect, identified as Tyler Michael Berlick. The rescue happened around 3:24 a.m. in a Key Largo shopping center parking lot. However, the girl’s disappearance occurred in Simpsonville, South Carolina, a community just 90 miles southeast of Columbia.
The Greenville County Sherriff’s Office began the investigation after receiving reports she went missing from her residence on Sunday, February 11. Afterward, law enforcement received information indicating that the suspected kidnapper hails from Mukwonago, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles west of Milwaukee.
Authorities also noted that Berlick might be en route to Monroe County, Florida. As the investigation continued, a report by the Miami Herald surfaced. The report revealed that authorities discovered the connection between the girl and Berlick extended slightly over a year.
ALSO READ: Two Women Heroically Locate Missing US Child Following Amber Alert
Berlick met her through an “online chatting services and gaming app,” according to WPLG. Additionally, law enforcement disclosed that the girl, clearly distressed, showed signs of agitation and expressed a desire to self-harm.
Monroe County Sheriff Ramsay stated, “We figured out pretty quickly that he is not her father or relative.” Recognizing the gravity of the situation, police quickly notified the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Sheriff Ramsay acknowledged the profound and lasting effects this ordeal may have on the young girl. He stated, “This is probably something that will affect her for the rest of her life.” According to online records, Berlick remains in custody at the Monroe County Jail.
As of Wednesday, February 14, his legal status was the same. Similarly, an event occurred in July 2023. Here, North Carolina police rescued a Florida teen who fell victim to what authorities call a “true case of child trafficking” after a routine traffic stop. They pulled the perpetrator, 40-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Vazquez of Miami, over for a traffic violation.
ALSO READ: Authorities Record Fatalities in Shooting Incident During Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Celebration
This stop occurred shortly after midnight on July 4, 2023, near Rocky Mount. Notably, this intervention happened 800 miles away from the location where they declared the teen missing. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office also said that deputies were suspicious during the enforcement action and asked routine questions.
While investigating, cops discovered the unidentified teenager was a runaway by Coral Springs police in Florida. Authorities suspect that Vazquez contacted the teen online and persuaded her to abandon her family.
Family members told the officers they were unaware of the man’s identity. Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone told ABC that it was not that she was physically restrained in the car. However, considering the age difference, he manipulated her and transported her across the country.
Following the rescue, the girl reunited with her family. Vazquez, on the other hand, faced charges and is in a North Carolina jail for child abduction.
You Might Also Like:
Sephora Condemns Teens’ Misuse of Makeup in Viral Blackface TikTok Video
Two Women Heroically Locate Missing US Child Following Amber Alert
Authorities Record Fatalities in Shooting Incident During Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Celebration
