A 14‑year‑old Connecticut girl missing for 19 days was found alive at a home in North Carolina, and a 51‑year‑old man has been arrested on kidnapping and statutory rape charges, according to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.
The girl was reported missing to the Middletown Police Department on April 9, prompting a multistate search that eventually led investigators to North Carolina. On April 27, Connecticut authorities asked the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office for help, and deputies later located the teen inside a residence on Ocean Isle Beach. She was found with 51‑year‑old Justin Newman, who was taken into custody at the scene.
Newman is now charged with first‑degree kidnapping and four counts of statutory rape of a child under 15, according to jail records at the Brunswick County Detention Center, where he is being held.
Detectives said that Newman allegedly met the girl on social media. He then allegedly arranged a ride‑share vehicle to pick up the girl in Middletown and take her to a train station, where she boarded a train bound for North Carolina, news station WTNH reported.
Prosecutors said during Newman’s initial court appearance that he had first made contact with the girl three months earlier through Skout, an app that connects users via livestreams and chat features.
Missing Child Statistics in the US
There were more than 340,000 missing children in the United States in 2024, according to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center.
While most cases are resolved quickly, a smaller subset, particularly those involving potential exploitation, poses the highest risk. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reports that roughly 1 in 6 of its missing‑child cases involves possible child‑sex trafficking, and children who remain missing for extended periods face sharply increased danger.
What Happens Next
Newman is expected to appear in court on May 14, Wilmington news station WECT reported. He is currently being held at the Brunswick County Detention Center with no bond. It is not immediately clear if he has legal representation.
The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active, and additional charges are possible as detectives continue to review evidence and coordinate with Connecticut authorities. Prosecutors in Brunswick County are expected to determine whether further counts will be filed as the case develops.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Middletown Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit at 860-638-4130.
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