KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Kennewick Police Department arrested a former Kennewick School District security guard after a missing 14-year-old was found in Gresham, Oregon.
In a press release, KPD said the 14-year-old’s parents reported them missing on June 25. A week later, police learned the teenager had been with the former security of their middle school, a 26-year-old man from West Richland.
Nonstop Local typically does not name suspects until they are formally charged.
Officials said they questioned the man and his 22-year-old wife but did not find the teenager at his current place of work or their home. With the help of the FBI, investigators found that the man dropped the teenager off in Gresham on July 2 with food, cash, a cell phone and personal items. According to the investigation, the 14-year-old requested the out-of-state ride so that they could catch a train to California.
Investigators, including the Gresham Police Department, reunited the 14-year-old with their parents late on July 3. The 26-year-old was booked into Benton County Jail for Kidnapping in the 2nd degree and his wife has since been released as the investigation continues.
