Murdered Illinois Teen Met Suspect Online: Police

SPRING VALLEY, IL — A 16-year-old Illinois girl found murdered Jan. 27 met her suspected killer online, police said Tuesday. Diamond Bradley, of Spring Valley, was last seen by her family the night of Jan. 23. Days after she was reported missing, the Putnam County Sheriff's office said her body was found in a ditch along County Highway 850 North. The teen had been stabbed to death, authorities said.

On Tuesday, Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle and Spring Valley police chief Kevin Sangston held a press conference to announce that a suspect is in custody in the case, but not yet charged with Bradley's murder.

Missing Illinois Teen Found Dead Along Rural Road

Richard Henderson, 26, of Standard, Illinois, is charged with concealing a homicidal death, according to the News Tribune. Additional charges are pending against Henderson, who met 16-year-old Bradley online, authorities said. He has not yet been charged directly in her death.

Police said Bradley had agreed to meet with Henderson, who picked her up near her home sometime between 6:30 and 7 a.m. Jan. 24, the same day she was reported missing. Henderson reportedly drove Bradley to Putnam County, where an "altercation" occurred and Bradley was stabbed to death near the site where her body was found, police said during the press conference.

Police said a "methodical" investigation a cell phone "pings" helped lead them to Henderson as a suspect.

Henderson is being held at the LaSalle County jail. Sangton said investigators believe he and Bradley had been in contact at least once prior to her murder, but said the nature of their relationship was still under investigation, according to WQAD.

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