The internet is a wild place for adults, let alone minors – and unfortunately, many predators target young victims. For this reason and more, online safety is of utmost importance when it comes to kids. Terrifyingly, a 14-year-old Tennessee girl was recently abandoned in the woods by a man she met online.
Alexander Materne, 28, of Louisiana was arrested in late December 2024. Allegedly, he transported the young teen from across state lines to have sexual relations before leaving her in a wooded area. It’s because of her parents that the teenager was found and her alleged captor is behind bars.
More from CafeMom: My Daughter Started Playing Online Games & Here’s How I’m Safeguarding Her
Materne allegedly met the 14-year-old online and picked her up at her home.
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office detailed the disturbing case in a December 26 news release.
“On December 23, 2024, Materne picked up the female from her residence in TN and brought her to his residence in St. Rose, LA, where they allegedly engaged in sexual acts,” the statement read. “The female then allegedly disclosed her age to Materne.”
He then reportedly left her in the woods so he could celebrate Christmas with his family.
The news release explained that Materne and the teenager eventually left his home. He reportedly brought her to “a wooded area in Tangipahoa Parish” and left her with a tent, food, and water. “Materne then went to Jennings, LA, to celebrate Christmas with his family,” according to the sheriff’s office release.
The teen's parents successfully tracked down Materne.
Interestingly, the 14-year-old’s parents were the ones who tracked their daughter to Materne in Jennings, which was more than 150 miles from Materne’s home.
“They were the key to all of this,” Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker said December 28, according to the Associated Press. “I’m telling you if they want a job, I’ll hire both of these parents as investigators.”
More from CafeMom: Digital Detectives: Teaching Your Kids To Spot Online Red Flags
Thankfully, the Tennessee girl was found abandoned in the woods but in good health.
While speaking with officers at a family member’s home in Jennings, Materne “agreed to show detectives where he dropped off the female in Tangipahoa Parish,” per the news release.
The 14-year-old was reportedly in “good health” when authorities found her in the woods on December 24. She was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
“You can’t make this stuff up,” Sticker told the AP. “It’s a Christmas miracle that she was found safe. This thing could’ve ended badly.”
Materne faces serious charges.
Ultimately, Materne was arrested in Tangipahoa Parish on one count of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and one count of aggravated kidnapping of a child. Meanwhile, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrest warrants for Materne for two felonies, human trafficking and carnal knowledge. He was set to be taken to St. Charles Parish Nelson Coleman Correctional Center, the December 26 release noted.
