22-Year-Old 'Boyfriend' Arrested In Connection With Missing Girl

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — Two men and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested in connection with an Amber Alert issued for an 11-year-old girl by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Monday.

During a news conference, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said the girl was located unharmed around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Pasadena Drive home of a Tampa man she believed was her boyfriend.

Luis Alberto Encarnacion, 22, faces six charges including concealing the location of a minor.

“In her mind, she thought Luis was her boyfriend. We all know that’s not real - an 11-year-old has a 22-year-old boyfriend," Nocco said. “What is real is that Luis, this 22-year-old, acted like a predator on this little child."

Nocco said the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office also arrested two people seen on surveillance video at a 7-Eleven near River Ridge Middle School where the girl was last seen before she was reported missing. She attends River Ridge Middle School but lives in Thonotosassa.

Reginald Clark, 19, of Jacksonville, and a 17-year-old boy from Clearwater have both been charged with felony interference with child custody.

Nocco said detectives are still unraveling how the girl came in contact with the two men and teen. He said detectives believe she communicated with them through social media.

He said the girl has had a difficult life. She does not live with her family or have a stable relationship with an adult that's so important for a child that age. Those factors make her ideal prey for human traffickers, Nocco said.

He said the sheriff's office is now working with community partners to provide the girl with services and resources to address any trauma she may have experienced.

Related story: Amber Alert Canceled For 11-Year-Old New Port Richey Girl