MIAMI – A Wisconsin fugitive who deputies say kidnapped a 13-year-old girl from South Carolina and brought her to the Florida Keys in February is now facing several child rape charges in the Palmetto State.
Already charged with kidnapping, the additional counts against 35-year-old Tyler Michael Berlick were added Wednesday, according to Greenville County, South Carolina jail records. After being extradited from South Florida, he was booked into that county’s jail on Feb. 28.
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Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies found Berlick, of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, with the girl at the Pink Plaza shopping center, located at 103400 Overseas Highway on Key Largo, just before 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 13.
Deputies had received information that Berlick, who was wanted by the FBI, may have been headed towards the Keys, MCSO spokesperson Adam Linhardt said in February.
South Carolina authorities said Berlick met the Simpsonville, South Carolina girl through an “online chatting service and gaming app.”
Arrest warrants from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office list four instances of sexual assault that occurred on Feb. 9 and 10.
Deputies said Berlick kidnapped the girl on Feb. 12 and subsequently brought her to South Florida.
Greenville County court records show Berlick is facing four counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of kidnapping.
Those records don’t indicate whether any hearings have been scheduled.