Police Rescue Florida Girl, 12, From Hotel Where She Was Staying With North Carolina Man

A North Carolina man has been arrested by Florida authorities after picking up a pre-teen girl and taking her to a motel, where, police allege, he sexually assaulted her.

The victim, who is only 12, was reported missing from her home in Osceola County on January 31. Police did not specify what town the girl was from in a statement issued Tuesday, February 10.

The pre-teen had told her parents that she would be spending that night at a friend’s house. However, in reality, she was planning to meet up with Edar Fabricio Dejesus-Matheu, 22.

The worried parents called 911 the next morning when they were unable to get the girl to respond to calls and text messages, according to the statement.

Investigators alleged that the two met while using a social media app months ago, and that ever since, they had been planning the illegal rendezvous.

After picking up the child, police said Dejesus-Matheu took her to a hotel in a neighboring county.

As part of their search for the missing girl, detectives wound up tracking her cell phone to that hotel’s parking lot, the statement claims.

Investigators arrived on February 1 to find the girl inside a vehicle with Dejesus-Matheu, who was handcuffed on the spot.

As police spoke to the girl, they learned Dejesus-Matheu had driven down from North Carolina, specifically to pick up the child and take her to the hotel, according to the police press release.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office’s detectives eventually uncovered proof “that Dejesus-Matheu engaged in lewd and lascivious molestation within Orange County.”

As a result, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division took over that portion of the ongoing probe.

Dejesus-Matheu currently faces charges in Osceola County for traveling to meet a minor for unlawful sexual activity and the unlawful use of a two-way communication device. He was booked into the Orange County Jail on additional charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of a minor.

Sheriff’s officials said that the rescue of the 12-year-old happened on Safer Internet Day, which is a global initiative promoting safe and responsible use of digital technology, and said this case should serve as a reminder to parents to proactively monitor their children’s online activities. They emphasized that online vigilance is often the only line of defense against predators who use social platforms to groom young victims.

Dejesus-Matheu remains in custody in Orange County while he awaits further legal proceedings in Osceola. It was unclear Thursday, February 12, if Dejesus-Matheu has an attorney or was asked to enter pleas to the charges against him.

Local authorities are asking anyone who may have additional information regarding this suspect or similar incidents contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at (407) 348-2222.

If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at tips.fbi.gov