A 16-year-old Ohio girl who went missing was discovered 1,000 miles away from her home in Florida after her World Of Warcraft video game account was accessed by a 31-year-old man, according to the sheriff’s office.
The FBI contacted local law enforcement in Dunnellon on Jan 3 to assist with the investigation into the missing teenager, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release on Jan 4. The 16-year-old girl had gone missing from Ohio.
Authorities noticed that the girl’s World Of Warcraft account, which is a multiplayer online role-playing game, had been logged into in Florida after she was reported missing.
Deputies revealed that another gaming account, belonging to 31-year-old Thomas Ebersole, had also been active from the same home address.
When officers went to Ebersole’s residence, he initially denied knowing the teen. However, he later admitted to being in a “romantic relationship” with the 16-year-old.
Ebersole confessed to deputies that he had driven to Ohio to meet her and then drove her back to Florida.
He allegedly admitted to planning to hide her in his home with intentions of marrying her, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said Ebersole showed them messages on Discord, an online messaging platform, detailing his plan to meet the teen in Ohio “and engage in sexual activity despite knowing that he was committing a crime.”
Ebersole was arrested on charges of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity, interfering with child custody, and sheltering an unmarried minor, deputies confirmed.
Dunnellon is located approximately 90 miles north of Tampa. – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service
