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A U.S. Marine on active duty has been taken into custody following accusations of traveling from North Carolina to Indiana with the intent to kidnap and sexually assault a 12-year-old girl from Lake County.
Authorities apprehended William Richard Roy in Durham, North Carolina, on Sunday. The 24-year-old Marine is based at Camp Lejeune, according to official records.
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Roy is now facing several federal charges related to the case.
- Enticement of a Minor to Travel for Illicit Sexual Activity
- Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity
- Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in a Sexual Act with a Minor
The investigation kicked off on Saturday when the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, specifically the Merrillville Resident Agency, was alerted by local law enforcement. A tip from the Hammond Police Department indicated that a missing 12-year-old girl was thought to be in the company of Roy.
The FBI disclosed that the girl’s grandmother had reported her missing earlier that day. Sources from FOX59/CBS4 have verified that Roy allegedly met the child on TikTok, where their communication reportedly began.
With the help of U.S. Marshals, it was determined that Roy had allegedly flown to Chicago on Oct. 24. The next day, investigators say he took an Uber to Hammond and met up with the child at a park.
Roy and the victim then allegedly took the Uber back to a Chicago hotel and stayed overnight. The morning after, investigators say they got on a Greyhound bus bound for North Carolina.
When the bus arrived in Durham on Oct. 26, agents from the FBI’s Greensboro office and local officers took Roy into custody and “safely recovered” the 12-year-old.
The investigation into Roy remains active between the FBI’s Indianapolis, Charlotte and Chicago offices. The FBI thanked the Hammond Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.
Due to this being a federal case, Roy’s mugshot/booking photo has not been made publicly available. FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to the U.S. Marine Corps for a photo of Roy.
