In August of 2022, a teenage girl suddenly went missing from her home in Virginia. Her sudden disappearance sent relatives and friends into a state of panic, and spent days looking for her but with no success. Thankfully, authorities were hard at work in looking for the girl, and after 11 days, she was back home safe with her family. All of this is thanks to the Nintendo Switch of the missing child and the attentiveness of one of her friends. This article discusses how the FBI used the Nintendo Switch to find the missing child and bring her back home, along with the name of the suspect.
Who is the Missing Child?
Because she is still a minor, authorities have decided not to release the teenager’s personal information to the public. It was a certain Ethan Roberts who took the young girl away from home. The man took her to an apartment in Tolleson, Arizona, more than 2,000 miles from her home in Virginia. Roberts had allegedly contacted the girl online and groomed her before convincing her to travel with him.
- The girl’s relatives reported that she was missing. Following that, it took 11 days for authorities to track her down.
The FBI used a Nintendo Switch to locate an abducted child, according to ABC15.
A friend saw that the 15-year-old was online and informed the authorities. With Nintendo’s cooperation, the FBI obtained the Switch’s IP address, uncovered her location, and arrested her kidnapper. pic.twitter.com/zDhAiU599J
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 17, 2023
- Fortunately, the missing girl showed up online when she linked her Nintendo Switch to the internet, notifying one of her friends.
- This gave the authorities a crucial tip that enabled them to find her.
The missing girl was found thanks to the fast thinking of her friend, who reported to authorities that she had recently logged into her Nintendo Switch account.
- After her friend’s report, police were able to track the girl through her Switch and find her at the Tolleson residence.
The Investigation
The FBI and local law enforcement in Arizona were able to locate the missing girl using her Nintendo Switch. The FBI tracked the handheld console’s location and found the apartment where the girl was being held.
Once the police rescued the child, they surrounded the apartment. From there, they detained the suspect, and Ethan Roberts was eventually charged with the crime in federal court.
- He was accused of transporting a kid with the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual behavior. According to reports, he also forced her into child pornography.
- He received a 30-year federal jail term in April 2023.
While the use of the Nintendo Switch in this case was important and helped find the missing girl, it also highlights the dangers of online gaming. Predators can use gaming and the internet to find and attract victims, and it is essential to educate children about the risks of interacting with strangers online.
— Eurons くさ (@eurons1) July 17, 2023
We suggest you be aware of your surroundings while interacting with strangers online. Furthermore, if you see inappropriate signs from someone online, report them to local authorities in your country. We are relieved that the missing girl has successfully reunited with her family.
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