Missing Ohio Girl Found After I-40 Traffic Stop in Texas; Man Charged With Kidnapping

A New Mexico man has been arrested on a federal charge of kidnapping in connection with the abduction of a 12-year-old girl reported missing from Ohio.

In a statement posted yesterday, the Gray County Sheriff's Office received word on September 23 that the cell phone of a man suspected of kidnapping a juvenile girl was pinged travelling on I-40.

The girl had been reported missing from Hartsgrove, Ohio four days prior, according to a release from Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office. She had reportedly left her home at 8:30 am and never returned. After authorities were notified, subsequent investigation revealed that she had been in contact with an unknown male on social media.

Eventually, officials were able to establish the identity of the male and obtain a warrant to ping his phone and notify Gray County Sheriff's Office

Authorities were able to locate the suspect vehicle and conduct a traffic stop near McLean, Texas. The driver, 41-year-old Joseph Doss Gunter of Albuquerque, New Mexico was arrested without incident. He was then transported to Randall County Jail where he was booked on federal kidnapping charges. He is expected to appear before a judge in the coming days.