A 31-year-old Florida man was arrested this week on multiple charges after devising a plan to pick up his underage girlfriend in Ohio and hide her in Florida until she was of legal age to marry.
Things didn’t quite work out for him as planned.
According to investigators, on Wednesday, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Detective Osthed was contacted by a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) requesting assistance with locating a missing 16-year-old from Ohio.
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Investigators determined that the juvenile victim’s World of Warcraft account was utilized at 2390 SW Shorewood Drive, in Dunnellon, on the same day.
Further investigation revealed that this was 31-year-old Thomas Ebersole’s home address, and his World of Warcraft account was also accessed from the same residence.
Law enforcement made contact with Ebersole at his home, at which time he initially denied knowing the juvenile victim.
However, he ultimately admitted that he had driven to Ohio to meet the victim and brought her back to his home.
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Ebersole also stated he was in a romantic relationship with the juvenile victim and was going to hide her in his home with plans for her to become his wife.
Ebersole provided Detective Osthed with Discord messages that further outlined his plans to meet the victim in Ohio and engage in sexual activity despite knowing that he was committing a crime.
Ebersole was placed under arrest and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he remains without bond.
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