A 12-year-old Florida girl shocked everyone when she decided to steal her dad’s car and hit the road with her best friend, embarking on a 400-mile journey across state lines. Why? To allegedly meet someone she had been talking to online.
The story began on a quiet Thursday morning in Lake Butler, Florida, when authorities issued a missing child alert. The girl, Jade Gregory, and her 14-year-old friend, Khloe Larson, had vanished. They were last spotted cruising through town in Jade’s dad’s Ford Taurus. Their destination? Allegedly, Louisiana, where their online contact was based.
The bold pair managed to make it all the way to Alabama—an impressive 400 miles from Gainesville—before reality set in. Feeling the pressure of a multi-state search, they turned themselves in. Thankfully, both girls were unharmed.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office quickly canceled the missing child alert and expressed gratitude to the many agencies that helped track the girls down. “Thank you for all the tips and information received,” they wrote in a statement, crediting the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their swift action.
Officials suspect the girls may have been lured into this journey by someone they met online, but the details remain unclear. Chief Deputy Captain Lyn Williams revealed there were “red flags” about the individual they had been in contact with, and the FBI is now investigating.
While this story ended with both girls safely reunited with their families, it serves as a chilling reminder of the risks young people face online. Who was the mysterious person they were so eager to meet? And how can parents better protect their kids from similar dangers?
This wild ride has left many questions unanswered, but one thing is certain: it’s a story that underscores the importance of vigilance in the digital age. Share this story to spark conversations about online safety and protecting our kids.
