A 15-year-old girl who was reported missing from North Carolina was rescued from the home of a suburban man who is now facing multiple felony charges of sexual abuse.
On Tuesday, the United States Marshals Service received a tip that the missing teen from Kannapolis, North Carolina, was possibly being held at a residence in the 31000 block of Prairie Ridge Road in Green Oaks, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators from the sheriff’s office, the Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Field Office and the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group gathered evidence that confirmed the teenager was at the residence.
Officials then obtained a search warrant for the property.
Surveillance was established around the house, and around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, detectives saw 43-year-old Andrew W. Szech leaving the residence with the victim. Szech was taken into custody and the girl was rescued.
Investigation revealed Szech allegedly communicated with the victim online, beginning in June. He reportedly persuaded her to travel by bus from North Carolina to Chicago earlier in July.
After arriving in Chicago, Szech allegedly picked her up and brought her to his home in Green Oaks, where he sexually abused her.
A search of Szech’s home uncovered a cache of illegal substances and items, including:
