FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Detectives reported finding a 13-year-old girl from Hillsborough County who ran away from home with a Broward County man who she had met online.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the teenage girl ran away with Edward Rodriguez early Saturday morning.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a “missing child alert” that was canceled on Tuesday.
“We are immensely grateful that this young girl has been found,” Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement.
Broward County inmate records show Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Rodriguez, 38, on Tuesday in Cooper City.
During the investigation after the teen vanished, detectives learned the girl had met Rodriguez online.
Chonister said Hillsborough detectives worked with BSO and the U.S. Marshals to find the teen and arrest Rodriguez.
“Our joint efforts have brought a young girl home to her family, and that is what truly matters,” Chronister said.
In Broward, Rodriguez is facing charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of a minor, and providing aid to a minor without notifying a parent or a law enforcement officer.
In Hillsborough, Rodriguez is facing one count of interference with child custody. Chronister said he expects Hillsborough prosecutors to file more charges against Rodriguez.
On Thursday morning, BSO inmate records showed Rodriguez was at the Broward County main jail. His bond was $32,500. He had a hold from Hillsborough County.
Local 10 News Tampa-Bay ABC News affiliate contributed to this report.