- A teenager was found wandering the streets in a Michigan town early in the morning
- She alleges she was held captive for more than a day
- Police fear there may be more victims
A 14-year-old girl was found wandering the streets around dawn over the weekend — and now a Michigan man is facing charges.
Police in Northville Township, Mich., arrested 22-year-old Charles Willis on several charges, including sexual criminal conduct, per The Detroit News, Local 4 and WWMT.
Police received a report around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, about the young girl walking alone on the street, the outlets reported, citing Northville Township police’s account.
Authorities would soon learn the child lived two hours away from where she was found, and that she had been in Willis’ home.
The suspect allegedly contacted the girl on Snapchat on April 25, and paid for an Uber to bring her to his home, per police, the outlets reported.
Once she arrived at his residence, Willis allegedly ordered the child to stay in the basement, police said.
She was held there for more than 24 hours, police said, according to WWMT.
“She was very brave in that she was able to tell us what happened to her,” Northville Township Police Lieutenant Patrick Reinke said, the outlet reported.
Online court records show Willis has been charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct, one count of kidnapping, one count of enticing a minor and one count of child sexually abusive commercial activity.
Plea information was not available in online records; his lawyer did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comments.
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Investigators believe there may be more victims.
Anyone who believes they or their child may have been in contact with Willis, or another adult predator, is urged to call Northville Township’s Detective Bureau at 248-349-9400, their own local police, or reach out to a mental health professional.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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