A 12-year-old girl stole her dad’s vehicle and drove 400 miles to meet an online predator, sparking a widescale federal search and an FBI investigation.
Jade Gregory and her friend Khloe Larson, 14, drove across state lines from Florida to Alabama before they were found safe by police.
According to reports, the young girls were traveling in the car of Gregory’s dad to meet the man, planning to see him in Louisiana.
The Missing Child Alert sent members of several states into a frenzy, as photos of the young girls flashed across television screens and billboards.
They were last seen in Main Street and County Road 237 in Lake Butler shortly after Gregory picked up her friend to take her along for the long ride.
The girls’ disappearance caused a massive federal search but they were eventually found within the day after they had traveled almost 400 miles.
They were only a few dozen miles from driving through Alabama and into Mississippi.
Feds are vetting the possibility they were lured by a trafficker.
The FBI is now investigating the man they believe the youngsters were planning to meet.
In a statement shared on Thursday morning, the Union County Sheriff’s Office said: “We have cancelled our active missing children alert.
“Jade Gregory and Khloe Larsen have been located safe in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.
“Many thanks to the multiple agencies involved throughout Florida, Alabama and Louisiana to include the FBI and FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement].”
The girls are now safe and back with their families.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!