A 16-year-old girl reported missing in North Carolina has been located in Florida after deputies stopped a vehicle for speeding and discovered she was traveling with a 37-year-old man now facing multiple criminal charges.
Authorities say the teen was found Sunday night in Putnam County, Florida, during a traffic stop near Crescent City. The driver, identified as 37-year-old Joshua Magraff, was arrested after deputies began questioning him about the teenage passenger in his car.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the girl had been reported missing by her mother on February 16 in North Carolina. When deputies pulled over Magraff’s vehicle, the situation quickly raised concerns after he struggled to explain his connection to the teen.
At first, Magraff told deputies the girl was his cousin. Moments later, he reportedly changed his explanation and described her as a friend.
“When deputies asked him why he was hanging out with a 16-year-old his story changed to stating he thought she was 19,” the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies also encountered difficulties identifying the girl. Investigators said she initially provided multiple false identities and birth dates, including one that would have made her just 12 years old. Because of concerns for her safety, officers separated her from Magraff and placed her in a patrol vehicle.
Once away from him, the girl gave deputies her real name. Authorities then confirmed she had been reported missing weeks earlier in North Carolina.
Officials also addressed conflicting reports about whether the suspect was known to the girl’s family. Some media outlets suggested the mother had previously known Magraff, but law enforcement clarified otherwise.
“The mother stated she did not know Magraff.”
During the investigation, Magraff reportedly told deputies that he and the teen had traveled to Florida “to play gambling games.”
A search of his vehicle led to additional discoveries that resulted in several criminal charges. Deputies said they found $1,900 in counterfeit cash inside the car, along with synthetic marijuana, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Magraff was arrested and charged with interference with child custody, delinquency of a minor, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of counterfeit money, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later granted a $9,000 bond in Putnam County, a rural area located between Gainesville and St. Augustine.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether additional charges could be filed against him in North Carolina.
Meanwhile, the teenage girl was taken into protective custody by Florida’s Department of Children and Families. Officials said the agency is working to safely reunite her with her mother.
The case remains under investigation.
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