Missing Missouri Girl Found Alive in Sex Offender's Colorado Home 5 Months After She Vanished: Police

• A young girl who has been missing from Missouri since December has been found alive in a Colorado property with a sex offender after reportedly being held against her will, police have said
• Suspect Maximilian Bondrescu, 44, has been arrested and is facing multiple charges, including sexual assault on a child and 2nd degree kidnapping
• Police believe Bondrescu “rented a vehicle to drive to Missouri, where he met with the juvenile female and then drove her to Colorado,” per a press release

A 16-year-old girl missing since December has been found alive in a sex offender’s house, police have confirmed.

The Fort Collins Police Cyber Crimes Unit in Colorado confirmed they’d arrested Maximilian Bondrescu, 44, on April 18 after receiving “a tip from a Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force detective regarding a possible kidnapping,” per an April 24 press release shared on Facebook.

“It was reported that a juvenile [who] was missing from Missouri since December 2024 may be in Fort Collins,” the release stated. “Fort Collins Police Detectives developed information to believe that the missing female may be at a residence in the 800 block of Warren Landing.” 

Police obtained a search warrant for the property with the assistance of the Fort Collins Police SWAT Team, the release continued, adding that Bondrescu was found inside the residence, but that he “denied that there was a juvenile female in the house.” 

“The house was searched, and the missing juvenile was located inside. Bondrescu is currently a registered sexual offender,” police added, confirming he’d been booked into Larimer County Jail.

Bondrescu is now facing the following charges: Class 2 Felony – 2nd Degree Kidnapping – Child; Class 3 Felony – Sexual Assault on a Child – Pattern of Abuse; Class 4 Felony – 2nd Degree Assault; and Class 5 Felony – False Imprisonment – Minor Locked in Room.

He was also arrested on charges of: Class 1 Misdemeanor – Failure to Register as a Sex Offender – Incomplete Registration; Class 2 Misdemeanor – Child Abuse; Class 2 Misdemeanor – Harboring a Minor; and Class 2 Misdemeanor – Obstructing a Peace Officer, the release stated.

Police said that the investigation had revealed that the suspect had “rented a vehicle to drive to Missouri, where he met with the juvenile female and then drove her to Colorado.”

“The victim reported to investigators that she was held against her will, but Bondrescu would sometimes take her out and make her work for his snow removal company,” police said.

“The snow removal company is called FoCo Sno GO. While she was forced to work for his company, she was required to wear a mask while shoveling to conceal her identity and age,” the release stated.

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Fort Collins Police Assistant Chief, Kristy Volesky said, “The importance of the work done by the Fort Collins Police Cyber Crime Unit, and similar units across the nation play a vital role in helping to keep our children safe,” per the release. 

“Had it not been for the diligent work of these detectives, the juvenile could have continued to be victimized. Our investigators will now work closely with the District Attorney’s Office to ensure justice for this child,” Volesky added.

According to Larimer County Jail inmate records, Bondrescu is being held on a $500,000 bond. A court date has been scheduled for Monday, May 5, per the online records.

Fort Collins Police didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.