A man accused of taking a missing 14-year-old girl from Illinois to Stark County is now facing a rape charge after authorities say he engaged in sexual conduct with the teen at a Plain Township motel.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Steven D. Myers, was initially arrested on a charge of interference with custody, a fourth-degree felony. However, additional charges have been filed following the investigation into the incident.
The teen, who had been reported missing from Zeigler, Illinois, early Tuesday morning, was found Wednesday in a vehicle with Myers following a traffic stop near Genoa Avenue SW and the railroad tracks in Massillon. Officers from the Perry Township Police Department, acting on information from the Zeigler Police Department, had initially responded to a residence at 300 Westland Ave NW for a welfare check. While the girl was not at the home, police found her belongings inside.
Authorities say the teen was able to contact a relative, who then alerted police. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Illinois State Police, tracked the suspect’s movements in real time. Investigators believe Myers was en route to a police station when Perry Township officers intercepted the vehicle.
Myers remains in the Stark County Jail as the case continues.
