x
Breaking News
More () »

Update: Missing Grand Island student has been found; individual in custody

The sheriff's office reported that she was located early Friday morning.

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — Update: on Friday morning the FBI confirmed that the teen had been found.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a missing 13-year-girl was located in York County, Pennsylvania around 4:30 Friday morning. 

An individual is also in custody, according to the Sheriff's Office. They identified him as 24-year-old Dale Kumler of York County, Pennsylvania. He's in custody in southeast Pennsylvania. 

And according to an affidavit there, he's facing 10 charges in York County. More are on the way as well. 

2 On Your Side is not naming the 13-year-old or showing her face because that affidavit shows she may have been a victim of sexual assault. 

The Erie County District Attorney's Office has also filed charges, including kidnapping in the second degree, which is a felony. 

Investigators say Kumler will face federal charges as well, but they're still determining which ones.

Erie County Undersheriff Bill Cooley says Kumler groomed the teen, but didn't specify how long they had been talking online through an Xbox and other social media platforms.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Kumler picked up the 13-year-old from her home Wednesday night in Grand Island, then drove her back to his parents' home in York County and snuck her through a window there. 

Officials say the teen did not bring her phone, but the affidavit shows the Buffalo FBI office tracked Kumler's cell phone. 

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper went to Kumler's parents' home and took him in for questioning.

Troopers then obtained a search warrant for the address and found the teen in Kumler's bedroom early Friday morning. 

Special agents with the Buffalo FBI office have an important message for all parents. 

"Children, they don't understand that the people they're meeting online don't have their best interests at heart," said special agent in charge Matthew Miraglia, with the Buffalo FBI Office. 

"Just talk to your children, know what's going on. When you hear them yelling at the top of their lungs at the videogame screen, pay attention to what they're yelling and what's going on. This isn't specific to just online. If they're very secretive with what's going on in their phone, these are the types of things that are not just specific to online but even in regular life."

Officials with the Erie County DA's office say they want to extradite Kumler to Erie County. 

However, they say they don't think it will happen anytime soon because first the case must wrap up in Pennsylvania. 

On Friday, Superintendent Brian S. Graham shared a statement thanking the community for their help in sharing the missing teen's information and announced she will be reunited with her family on Friday.

In the release, he encouraged families to talk with their kids about internet safety:

"As we reflect on the unique experience related to this situation, we would ask all parents to contemplate how much access should be given to young children, as it relates to social media and internet chat forums. Additionally, we should all be aware that meeting strangers online or while playing on Xbox and PlayStation should be considered just as dangerous as meeting and conversing with strangers in person."

The Superintendent of the Grand Island Central School District sent a message Thursday on social media looking to a missing student. 

Graham posted on his Twitter account for assistance in locating the student, 13. She has dyed reddish-orange hair and is believed to be wearing ripped jeans, a black sweater, a gray hat embroidered with the word "California."

Dr. Graham says around 7:30 a.m. the district reached out to law enforcement, and district staff began conducting interviews with staff and students. 

RELATED VIDEO:

Before You Leave, Check This Out