Overview
- Lake County deputies responded to a report of a missing girl under 14 and located the child and a 24-year-old man in a car at Independence Grove Forest Preserve on Saturday after tracking the vehicle with public-safety cameras.
- Detectives said the girl’s cellphone was not working so investigators relied on camera evidence and other leads to find the vehicle and take the child into protective custody.
- Authorities identified the suspect as Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez of Norcross, Georgia, and charged him with two counts of solicitation of child pornography and one count of unlawful possession of cocaine.
- The girl did not appear to be physically injured and was taken to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center for evaluation and support while prosecutors said they will ask a judge to hold the suspect pending trial.
- The case highlights interstate online grooming and the role of local investigators and camera technology in quick rescues and could lead to additional charges as county prosecutors continue their review.