Sheriff Reports Missing 14-Year-Old Tennessee Girl Left in Woods by Online Acquaintance

HAHNVILLE, La.—Authorities have located a missing 14-year-old girl from Tennessee safe in the woods of Louisiana, where she was allegedly abandoned by a man who had picked her up after they connected online.

According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, 28-year-old Alexander Materne drove the girl to his residence in St. Rose, Louisiana, on December 23, where they engaged in sexual activity. It was only after this that the girl revealed her age.

Materne is said to have then taken the girl to a remote area in Tangipahoa Parish, where he left her with a tent and supplies, including food and water, before heading off to Jennings, Louisiana, to spend Christmas with his family.

According to Sheriff Gerald Sticker from Tangipahoa Parish, the two had met on a gaming platform and had arranged for Materne to drive to her home in Tennessee.

Materne now faces multiple charges, including aggravated kidnapping of a minor, felony human trafficking, and carnal knowledge. Jail records do not indicate whether he has legal representation.

The breakthrough in the investigation occurred when the girl’s parents undertook their own inquiry and traced Materne to Jennings, Louisiana, located about 160 miles west of his home in St. Rose.

According to Sticker, the girl’s parents played a crucial role in the resolution of the situation, prompting him to jokingly offer them jobs as investigators.

Police Chief Danny Semmes from Jennings mentioned that his department received a tip about Materne possibly being with the girl on Christmas Eve. However, when they arrived at the family home, they were informed that he no longer lived there. The following day, officers were told that Materne had returned home to celebrate Christmas and subsequently agreed to be interviewed.

Materne led detectives to the girl’s location in the woods, approximately 42 miles (68 kilometers) from his residence. She had been in the woodland area for about two days.

Sticker remarked, “It’s unbelievable. This is a Christmas miracle that she was found alive. The situation could have ended tragically.”

The girl was taken to a hospital for examination and was later reunited with her family, according to investigators.