Missing Texas teen found over 1,000 miles away in North Carolina outbuilding; man charged

A missing 13-year-old girl from Texas was found over 1,000 miles from home in a locked outbuilding in North Carolina, authorities said. 

The teen was found outside a home in the city of Lexington, about 50 miles northeast of Charlotte, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Authorities said the teen was taken from her home in the Dallas area by a 34-year-old man, later identified as Jorge Ivan Santos Camacho.

The sheriff's office said it was able to locate the missing teen after it was notified of the incident Friday night by the Texas FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.

Suspect, teen met online

Authorities said the teen and Camacho met through social media and had been communicating on there prior to her disappearance. 

"The content of the chat was consistent with grooming and enticement," Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons said in a news conference. "He enticed her to actually leave the home, where he picked her up in the area."

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Authorities noticed suspect's license plate

The Dallas Police Department was investigating the teen's disappearance when officers found video camera footage of a truck in the area registered to an address in Davidson County, North Carolina. 

North Carolina officials were able to find the vehicle "within 10 minutes" and conducted a traffic stop shortly after leaving the address. 

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Missing teen found in locked outbuilding 

During the traffic stop, authorities learned the teen was in an outbuilding at the registered home. Camacho was taken into custody, and the sheriff's emergency response team went to the home, where they found a locked outbuilding. Authorities were able to get into the building, where the teen was found. 

The girl was taken to a local medical facility for treatment before she was taken back to her home in the Dallas area.

"I'm very thankful ... we were able to find this young girl. It may not be that case forever," Simmons said. "This is becoming a major problem and this is how kids are sold into human trafficking."

Charges

Camacho is facing multiple felonies charges, including:

• Two counts of statutory rape of a child.
• Two counts of statutory sex offenses with a child.
• Human trafficking.
• Abduction.
• Felonious restraint.
• Indecent liberties.

Camacho is being held ona  $1.25 million secure bond.

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.