A young girl missing from Kentucky has been found in West Virginia and a suspect has been charged with sexually assaulting the child.
The Harrison County (WV) Sheriff’s Office said that Wednesday morning at approximately 10:00, deputies located the 12-year-old runaway, naked and covered in mud, walking along a highway near Anmoor, in northwest West Virginia about 36 miles south of Morgantown, West Virginia.
Near where authorities found the girl, police said Christopher L. Watson, 31, was walking away from the area. Authorities detained Watson, with the girl telling police Watson sexually assaulted her. Investigators said Watson was driving a semi-truck cab.
“The initial thought was that it was a kidnap victim and the person who had perpetrated the kidnapping was in the are” Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny told media outlets. “Upon further investigation, we determined that it was not a kidnapping; however, the juvenile is learned to be a runaway from the Kentucky area. She became frightened of the individual and ran out into some woods and then out onto the highway.”
Watson was arrested and charged with third-degree sexual assault and lodged in the North Central Regional Jail on a $20,000 bond.
Matheny said the investigation continues and additional charges are possible.
West Virginia MetroNews reports the victim was missing from Ashland, about 185 miles northeast from where the girl was found.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
