Piqua teen found with sex offender

PIQUA, Ohio (WDTN) - A North Carolina sex offender will be brought back to Miami County, to face kidnapping charges. Authorities say he targeted a developmentally disabled teenager he met on the internet.

Authorities said, good communication between law enforcement agencies is what helped crack this case wide open, in a matter of just a few hours.

An Ohio State Highway patrol trooper alerted Miami County sheriff's officials after he made a traffic stop, and discovered a registered sex offender from North Carolina was on his way to Troy Sidney Road in Miami County.

Authorties said, that was the same street where a woman with special needs, had just been reported missing.

The Miami County Sheriff's Office issued a Silver Alert, when the guardians of 18-year old Lindsay McHugh of Piqua reported her missing.

Authorties believed she encountered North Carolina sex offender Kyle Anthony Cornelius on the internet.

"Her guardians had grounded her from using the internet, but learned she had still been using the computer at the public library," said Captain Dave Duchak, with the Miami County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the convicted sex offender and another man, Thomas Steen, took McHugh to a home in Raleigh, North Carolina, leaving those at home extremely concerned.

"There was grave concern, just because he's a registered sex offender coming from out of state, and also because of her developmental disability. She had a lower functioning IQ so we were obviously worried about her well being," said Duchak.

With information from the Highway Patrol, and help from Raleigh police and the US Marshalls, Cornelius and his Steen were captured, and McHugh brought back home safely.

Authorities said Raleigh police were investigating the crime. They were not able to comment on whether McHugh had been the victim of a sexual assault during the ordeal.

The Miami County Sheriff's office requested a Governor's Warrant to extradite the two suspects to Ohio. They will be charged with abduction and interfering with custody.