'A Parent's Worst Nightmare': GA Man Charged With Soliciting Child Porn: Sheriff

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A missing child from Lake County, Illinois, was rescued early Saturday after she disappeared from her home in the middle of the night with a man who had driven from Georgia to meet her in pursuit of a “romantic relationship,” authorities said.

The man, 24-year-old Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez, of the 500 block of Lancelot Drive in Norcross, faces two counts of soliciting child pornography and one count of cocaine possession, all of which are felonies, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which noted more charges were likely.

Deputies responded around 4:40 a.m. Saturday to an address in the Gurnee, Illinois, area for a report of a missing girl who was younger than 14 and had never run away before, authorities said.

The child’s cellphone wasn’t working, nor could she be located through her electronics, but detectives learned that Fuerte Perez had been communicating with her and that he had planned to drive cross-country to pick her up, according to the sheriff’s office.

Authorities used public safety cameras to find Fuerte Perez’s vehicle at the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville, Illinois, officials said, adding both the girl and Fuerte Perez were located around 6 p.m. inside the vehicle in a parking lot.

The child did not appear physically injured but was taken to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, authorities said. Fuerte Perez was due in court Sunday morning and the state’s attorney’s office planned to petition to detain him in custody while awaiting trial, according to the sheriff’s office.

“This type of case is a parent’s worst nightmare,” Sheriff John Idleburg said.

“Our Criminal Investigations Division took this case seriously and worked tirelessly from the moment the girl was reported missing until she was safely located. While there will undoubtedly be a long road to recovery and healing, I am grateful the victim was found safe and is physically okay. I am proud of everyone who played a role in rescuing this young girl and bringing the offender to the first steps of justice.”