Georgia girl, 12, missing since May, found safe in Ohio; suspect arrested

A missing 12-year-old Georgia girl last seen in May was found in Ohio, and a suspect has been arrested. 

Maria Gomez-Perez was found in Dover, Ohio, Thursday, Fox Atlanta reported. 

She was found at a shopping center with 31-year-old Antonio Agustin, a citizen of Guatemala.

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“Maria had indicated that she was unhappy, and she would like to leave home,” Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said. Agustin allegedly drove to Georgia to meet Gomez-Perez at her home May 29.

Investigators said a break in the case came last week when the girl contacted her father on a new social media account. She told him she was OK and to stop looking for her, the sheriff said. 

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Detectives tracked the IP address to a phone in Ohio. Agustin was arrested on suspicion of rape, but more charges are possible, Couch said. 

“Technology can be a wonderful thing. It helped us locate Maria” said Couch. “But technology can also be used for evil. It’s why Maria was able to leave Gainesville with a stranger and travel nine hours from her home.”

Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch holds a news conference to speak about the Maria Gomez-Perez case.  (Hall County Sheriff’s Office)

Fox News Digital has reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding Agustin’s legal status.