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Jennings PD: Missing Tennessee girl found safe in woods, Louisiana man arrested
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JENNINGS, La. (KLFY) -- A 28-year-old man was arrested in connection with a missing 14-year-old Tennessee girl who was found in a wooded area of Tangipahoa Parish, according to the Jennings Police Department.
In a social media post on Thursday, Jennings police announced the arrest of Alexander Materne.
Jennings police said that patrol officers received information on Christmas that a person in the Jennings area was connected to a missing girl from Tennessee.
Police said they found Materne and interviewed him at the Jennings Police Department.
"During the interview, Alexander agreed to show Jennings Police Detectives the location of the missing Juvenile in Tangipahoa Parish. Alexander disclosed to Detectives he had picked up the female from her home in Tennessee and transported her to his home in St. Rose, Louisiana, where they engaged in sexual intercourse," police said.
Materne allegedly took the girl to a secluded wooded area in Tangipahoa Parish, where she had been for about two days, police said.
Jennings police worked with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office to find the girl. The girl was taken to an area hospital and later returned to her family.
Materne was transferred into the custody of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, where he was charged accordingly, Jennings police said.
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, which was also involved in the investigation, said in a news release that its detectives learned that the girl and Materne met while playing an online game and allegedly made arrangements "for Materne to drive to [Tennessee] to pick up the female so she could stay with him."
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office said Matern left the girl in the woods with a tent, food and water.
"Materne then went to Jennings, LA, to celebrate Christmas with his family. The female’s family learned about Materne’s ties to Jennings and contacted them to check for Materne and the female. Materne was located at a family member's residence in Jennings. When asked about the female, he agreed to show detectives where he dropped off the female in Tangipahoa Parish. Detectives located the female in the woods, who was in good health. She was transported to a hospital to be evaluated," the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office said.
Per the news release, Matern was booked in Tangipahoa Parish on one count of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and one count of aggravated kidnapping of a child. In St. Charles Parish, he faces arrest warrants for felony human trafficking and felony carnal knowledge.
"Once he is able to be transported, Materne will be booked into the St. Charles Parish Nelson Coleman Correctional Center," St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office said.