(FeaturedHeadlines.com) – Law enforcement officers in Kentucky freed a 16-year-old girl from a man who allegedly abused and did drugs with the teenage captive. Police located the girl behind a trap door at the home of 34-year-old Zackary Jones, weeks after her family reported her missing from her home state of North Carolina.
Police rescued the teenage girl from Jones’ home on Christmas Day, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Officers arrived at Jones’ residence after his mother reported a fight between him and his so-called “girlfriend.” Although Jones initially told officers that the girl was not there, they eventually located her behind a trap door, which was concealed under a rug.
The missing teenage girl reportedly appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant when officers found her. The girl told police that Jones assaulted and did drugs with her. The girl claims that Jones told her that he was only 19 when he first engaged with her online and threatened her life after they met in person, and she found out the truth. Jones also allegedly forced her to tell his family that she was an adult.
Jones faces more than 30 criminal charges, including assault, strangulation, false imprisonment, and unlawful transaction with a minor. Jones admitted to engaging in lewd acts with the teenage girl, but denied choking her, despite officers noting that she had marks indicative of strangulation on her neck.
Jones claims that he took in the teenage girl after she was kicked out of her home. Jones also claims that she hid on her own volition when police arrived at his house. However, the girl’s grandfather said that he doubts Jones’ self-professed good intentions.
“I’m just glad she was found alive,” one of the teen’s close relatives said. The relative added that they tried to warn her about the dangers of such a situation. The girl was first reported missing on December 6. The teen is traumatized by the situation but is receiving help back in North Carolina, according to family members.
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