A 16-year-old girl who had been missing for about a month was safely recovered following a multistate investigation, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Authorities said the teenager was located last Friday in a hotel room near Jacksonville, Florida, after she had been reported missing from Ohio on Feb. 16.
Investigators identified the suspect as a Tennessee man named Negron, who has been taken into custody. Charges against him are pending. Agents also said Negron may be connected to a separate case in 2024, in which he allegedly transported a 17-year-old girl from Texas for sexual activity, Fox News Digital reported.
The bureau announced on Friday that it had successfully apprehended an alleged child sexual abuser, marking its second takedown in just one week. FBI Director Kash Patel commended the operation, which was coordinated among multiple field offices in collaboration with local police and the elite Hostage Rescue Team. He emphasized that protecting children from violent criminals is a top priority and stated that the teams “no doubt saved lives.”
“This case is the best of the FBI working with our great local partners: Acting quickly, using elite technology capabilities, and deploying the best of the best tactical units to find the alleged kidnapper and very likely save a young girl’s life,” Patel said in a statement obtained by Fox News.
“Protecting kids against violent criminals has been a top priority of this FBI from the start, and day after day our teams continue to get it done all across this country. Our Cincinnati, Nashville, and Jacksonville field offices working with local partners – as well as our incredible Hostage Rescue Team – all did outstanding work in this case and no doubt saved lives,” he added.
Federal officials said the missing teenager, who is from Colerain Township, Ohio, was located after investigators identified and tracked the suspect, Negron.
Authorities said a search warrant executed Friday at Negron’s home in Tennessee indicated he had already left the area. Law enforcement later tracked his location and vehicle to Palatka, Florida, that same morning.
Negron was taken into custody, and the girl was found safe in a nearby hotel room. Officials said charges against Negron are pending. Investigators are continuing to review digital evidence, and at this time, no child sexual abuse material has been identified.
During the investigation, agents said they identified a possible connection between Negron and a 2024 incident involving a 17-year-old girl from Texas. At that time, Negron was allegedly involved in two barricade incidents with local law enforcement and is accused of making threatening statements toward officers. Authorities said a shotgun was recovered from his residence.
According to the FBI, Negron’s criminal history also includes misdemeanor charges such as theft, trespassing, criminal mischief and marijuana possession. Fox said the local district attorney chose not to pursue charges in connection with the 2024 incident.
The FBI said it met Tuesday with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio to discuss potential federal charges, including allegations related to the transportation of a minor for sexual activity involving the 16-year-old victim.
Following his arrest near Jacksonville, Negron was placed in custody and is being transported back to Tennessee. The FBI said the case marks the second time in one week that its field offices have coordinated across jurisdictions to apprehend suspects in alleged child exploitation cases.
In a separate case earlier in the week, agents from the Buffalo and Charlotte field offices worked together to recover a 13-year-old and a 7-month-old child, according to the bureau, Fox noted.
Earlier this month, some 10 FBI officials were terminated in response to the burgeoning Biden-era scandal involving former special counsel Jack Smith, who secretly obtained phone records from the bureau involving several Republican lawmakers and others within President Trump’s orbit, including Patel and chief of staff Suzie Wiles.