A 14-year-old girl from Tennessee was found safe after being abandoned in the woods of Louisiana by a man she met online. Alexander Materne, 28, drove to Tennessee to pick up the girl on December 23 and brought her to his residence in St. Rose, where they engaged in sexual acts. It was only after these acts that the girl revealed her age to Materne, prompting alarming behavior from him.

Authorities report that after learning her age, Materne left the girl in a secluded area of Tangipahoa Parish, providing her with a tent, food, and water before heading to celebrate Christmas with his family. As per the AP News, the girl was left alone in the woods for approximately two days.

On Christmas Eve, the girl's family grew concerned about her absence and began their own inquiry, eventually tracking Materne to Jennings, Louisiana, where he was visiting family. Sheriff Gerald Sticker praised the parents for their investigative effort, stating, "They were the key to all of this." When questioned by police, Materne agreed to lead detectives to where he had abandoned the girl, which was about 42 miles from his home.

Upon rescue, the girl was evaluated in a hospital and found to be in good health. Materne was subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and other serious offenses related to the incident as reported by CBS News.

This case underscores the potential dangers of online interactions and the importance of parental oversight concerning children's online activities.