Missing Middletown Juvenile Found In North Carolina, Man Facing Kidnapping Charge

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A juvenile who went missing from Middletown earlier this month was found safe in North Carolina and a resident of that state is in custody as part of the search, police said.

The juvenile was reported missing in early April.

According to an MPD incident report, Middletown detectives from the MPD's Special Investigations Unit on Monday learned that the missing juvenile could be with Justin Newman of Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

It was determined by police that Newsman first arranged transportation for the juvenile to a train station and the juvenile then took a train to North Carolina, according to an MPD incident report.

Middletown police then contacted the Brunswick County Sheriff's Department, which then discovered the juvenile unharmed at the residence of Newman.

The juvenile is now in protective custody, police said. Connecticut Authorities are not releasing the juvenile's name, per state law.

A warrant obtained by WECT.com indicates that, after Brunswick County deputies located the girl inside Newman's home, they arrested Newman on first-degree kidnapping and statutory rape of a child charges. The report says Newman is being held without bond at the Brunswick County Detention Center. It further says the 51-year-old Newman met the 15-year-old girl three months earlier via an online dating app called Skout.

Middletown police said that anyone with potential information on the case can call them at 860-638-4130.