Ohio teen goes missing in Florida after logging into World of Warcraft account
DUNNELLON, Fla. — A missing Ohio teen was found in Florida after she logged into an online video game at the home of the man who took her, authorities said.
Thomas Ebersole, 31, was arrested last Wednesday at his home in Dunnellon, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The area is about 80 miles north of Tampa. Police in Lima, Ohio, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Columbus, reported the girl missing on December 28.
The FBI had contacted the sheriff's office earlier that day asking for help in locating the missing 16-year-old girl. Investigators determined that her World of Warcraft account had been used at a local address, which turned out to be Ebersole's home, authorities said. His World of Warcraft account was also accessible at the location. World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game.
Investigators contacted Ebersole at his home and he initially denied knowing the girl, officials said. But he eventually admitted that he drove to Ohio to meet the teen and took her to his home, authorities said. Ebersole also told investigators that he was in a romantic relationship with the girl and that he would hide her in his home until they could get married.
Ebersole provided detectives with online messages that further outlined his plans to meet the girl in Ohio and have sex with her, despite knowing he was committing a crime, officials said.
According to jail records, Ebersole is accused of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity and interfering with child custody, as well as harboring an unmarried minor. He was held on $6,000 bail. Jail records do not list an attorney for Ebersole.