A missing Tennessee teenager was found alive in the woods of Louisiana after being abandoned by a man she met on an online gaming platform days earlier.
Alexander Materne, 28, allegedly drove to the 14-year-old girl’s home in Tennessee before taking her back to his home more than 500 miles away in St. Rose, Louisiana.
The couple then allegedly engaged in “sexual acts,” after which she revealed her age to Materne, a statement from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office read.
Some time later, the minor left the St. Rose location and Materne bought her a tent, food and water before abandoning her in a wooded area in Tangipahoa Parish.
Materne then traveled approximately 160 miles away to Jennings to celebrate Christmas with her family, leaving the girl stranded in the woods.
With their daughter’s whereabouts unknown, the 14-year-old’s family conducted their own investigation when they discovered her link to Materne.
“However, the real breakthrough in the case came when the girl’s parents did their own investigation and tracked Materne to Jennings, Louisiana, where her family lived,” said Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Stinger.
Alexander Materne, 28, allegedly drove to the 14-year-old girl’s home in Tennessee before taking her back to his home more than 500 miles away in St. Rose, Louisiana.
Some time later, the minor left the St. Rose location and Materne bought her a tent, food and water before abandoning her in a wooded area of Tangipahoa Parish.
Sticker added that the two had met on a gaming platform and had made a plan to have Materne drive to his home in Tennessee. In the photo: Alexander Materne.
“They were the key to all of this,” Sticker said. “I assure you that if you want a job, I will hire both parents as researchers.”
Sticker added that the two had met on a gaming platform and had made a plan to have Materne drive to his home in Tennessee.
Jennings police first learned of the alleged kidnapping after Chief Danny Semmes received a call on Christmas Eve about the possibility of Materne keeping the girl in Jennings.
However, when officers checked the family’s home, they were told he no longer lived there.
The next day, police were notified that Materne had been present at the family home to celebrate Christmas and agreed to an interview with officers.
Authorities said Materne then led detectives to the girl’s location in the woods, several miles from her home. They believe he had been there for about two days.
‘You can’t make this stuff up. It is a Christmas miracle that they found her safe and sound. “This could have ended badly,” Sticker said.
The girl was taken to a hospital for a checkup and then returned to her family, investigators said.