VA Man Kidnapped Teen From Out-Of-State, Held Her Captive For 4 Years: Reports

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Wisconsin teen who was kidnapped four years ago by a Virginia man has returned to her family, with her captor facing charges, according to reports.

Blacksburg resident Owen Anderson, 37, was charged Friday with kidnapping by deceit, child abduction and child enticement in Milwaukee County court, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The now-19-year-old woman was found after law enforcement responded to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance, according to the Journal Sentinel, which reported that while the teen did not initially identify herself, she later called police back and told them who she was.

The girl started communicating with Anderson online when she was 12, the newspaper reported, adding that Anderson groomed and threatened to blackmail her. She opened up to him about her struggles with different types of abuse at home, according to WISN.

She followed instructions from Anderson, buying a burner phone with cash and taking a ride-share vehicle to Chicago, where they met at a movie theater and where both her phones were thrown away, WISN reported. Anderson took the teen home with him in a rental car, according to the Journal Sentinel, in which she was sexually assaulted, WISN reported.

Her mother reported her missing on June 23, 2022, the same day her Facebook account and Find My app were logged out of, according to WISN.

During the last four years, the teen lived with Anderson, who did not let her go to school and repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted her, the Journal Sentinel reported.

When Anderson was arrested, he had two pistols on his person, according to WISN, which added that 14 loaded spare magazines, as well as multiple knives and cans of pepper spray were also found.