BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A 13-year-old girl from Baker who had been missing for almost a week was found in the basement of a home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Oct. 30, after a nationwide investigation led by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Officials said the child was found during a joint operation involving the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania District, FBI, Pittsburgh Police, and the Allegheny County Juvenile Probation Office. She was turned over to medical personnel, where authorities confirmed evidence of sexual assault.
The investigation started on Oct. 24 when the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit asked the U.S. Marshals Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force for help in finding the missing girl.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit reported that the child had online contact with an unknown adult male.
A few days later, on Oct. 27, U.S. Marshals in New Orleans arrested a 62-year-old man in connection with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. During questioning, investigators learned he had been with the girl at the Greyhound Bus Station in Baton Rouge earlier that week.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Ronald Smith, 62, in Columbus, Georgia, on charges of simple kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Authorities believe the child later traveled by bus from Columbus to Pittsburgh.
When she was found, the child was with an adult female from Washington, D.C., and another adult male. Both suspects are under investigation, and officials said more arrests and charges are expected.
Agencies assisting in the case include the:
- Louisiana State Police.
- Louisiana Bureau of Investigation.
- Baker Police.
- Columbus Police.
- Pittsburgh Police.
- Allegheny County Juvenile Probation.
“Very proud of my LBI agents in helping to locate this child. She was groomed, exploited, and then sexually abused by strangers who found her online. This is just one example of the dangers of social media and of human trafficking,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.