Teen girl found in woods after she was lured by sexual predator from online gaming platform
A missing Tennessee teen was found alive in the Louisiana woods after having been left by a man who she met on an online gaming platform days earlier.
Alexander Materne, 28, allegedly drove the 14-year-old's home in Tennessee before bringing her back to his home over 500 miles away in St. Rose, Louisiana.
The pair then allegedly engaged in 'sexual acts' after which she disclosed her age to Materne, a statement by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office reads.
At some point later, the underage female 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 his family, leaving the girl stranded in the woods.
With their daughter's location unknown, the 14-year-old girl's family conducted their own investigation, when they discovered her linkage to Materne.
'The real break in the case, however, came when the girl's parents did their own investigation and tracked Materne to Jennings, Louisiana where his family lived,' Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Stinger said.
Alexander Materne, 28, allegedly drove the 14-year-old's home in Tennessee before bringing her back to his home over 500 miles away in St. Rose, Louisiana
At some point later, the underage female left the St. Rose location and Materne bought her a tent, food and water before abandoning her in a wooded area in Tangipahoa Parish
Sticker added that the two had met on a gaming platform and had made a plan for Materne to drive to her home in Tennessee. Pictured: Alexander Materne
'They were the key to all of this,' Sticker said. 'I'm telling you if they want a job, I'll hire both of these parents as investigators.'
Sticker added that the two had met on a gaming platform and had made a plan for Materne to drive to her home in Tennessee.
Jennings Police first learned of the alleged kidnapping after Chief Danny Semmes received a call Christmas Eve about Materne possibly having the girl in Jennings.
However, when officers checked at the family 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 he agreed to an interview with officers.
Authorities said Materne then took detectives to the girl's location in the woods, several miles from his home. They believe she had been there for about two days.
'You can't make this stuff up. It's a Christmas miracle that she was found safe. This thing could've ended badly,' Sticker said.
The girl was transported to a hospital for a check-up and later returned to her family, investigators said.
