The FBI says a 24-year-old Camp Lejeune Marine flew to Chicago to meet a 12-year-old girl, took her to a hotel overnight, and brought her to Durham, North Carolina, before being arrested.
The FBI identified the suspect as 24-year-old William Richard Roy, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, one of the largest U.S. Marine bases on the East Coast.
According to the FBI, Roy flew to Chicago last week, met the young girl at a park, and took her to a hotel where they stayed overnight before boarding a bus headed to Durham, North Carolina.
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Authorities say the child’s grandmother reported her missing on Friday, sparking a massive search across multiple states.
By Sunday, the FBI located and arrested Roy upon his arrival in Durham, safely recovering the young girl. Federal investigators allege Roy intended to engage in sexual activity with the minor and have charged him with enticement and transportation of a minor across state lines for illegal sexual acts.
The U.S. Marine Corps has not yet issued an official statement regarding the arrest.
Roy faces three serious federal charges connected to child exploitation and interstate kidnapping.Â
