Palos Hills Girl, 12, Found Safe after Lured by Man on Social Media: Police

PALOS HILLS, IL — A 12-year-old girl who was lured via social media into the company of an 18-year-old man was found safe early Tuesday morning, Palos Hills police said.

The girl's mother on Monday called police to their home in the 8500 block of W. 99th Terrace, after hearing that her daughter had not shown up to school that day. Palos Hills police called Chicago police, asking for assistance in checking a north side address in possible connection with the girl's location. Chicago police told local authorities that they were backed up on calls and unavailable to check.

Local detectives jumped into the investigation, quickly learning that she had come into contact with an older man through social media. Tuesday around 3 a.m., the girl was located in the 6000 block of North Ridge Avenue in Chicago, along with two other juvenile girls in the man's company.

The man was taken into custody by the Chicago Police Department who are currently investigating charges. Palos Hills Detectives had the missing female juvenile transported to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston to be checked for possible treatment.

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