A 30-year-old man is facing nine felony charges after he was found in South Haven this week with a 14-year-old girl missing out of Washington state.
Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott said on Friday his office was contacted Wednesday by the FBI, which had been investigating the case. It identified a suspect that had communicated online with the 14-year-old victim and brought her to South Haven in early January.
A warrant was obtained and a search conducted on property along Blue Star Highway Thursday, leading to the arrest of Keith Freerksen, a registered sex offender.
Abbott said the case highlights the need for more protections for minors online.
“Why is there a website like this, when used in this case where it’s okay for a kids to get on this website and talk to a total stranger? I would love to have the company defend why that’s a good idea,” Abbott said. “The victim got on a particular chat platform and the suspect made his initial contact with her there, and that’s when the grooming started. I’ve seen it over and over that nothing good comes out of a child opening up an app and talking to a total stranger on a computer.”
Abbott said the girl was found on the property during Thursday’s search and reunited with her parents, who flew to Michigan.
The girl’s mother on Friday thanked all of the police agencies that helped find her missing daughter, and also called for accountability for online platforms.
“Fortunately for us, she’s coming home safe,” the girl’s mother said. “The past three weeks have been nothing short of a nightmare, and one I hope no other parents have to experience. This is a call to action. This predator was able to use social media platforms to reach my child from across the country.”
Freerksen is charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct, human trafficking of a minor for commercial sexual activity, using a computer to commit a crime, third degree criminal sexual conduct, and accosting a child for immoral purposes. He faces up to life in prison. He’s also facing charges in Washington.
The Michigan Sex Offender Registry has Freerksen listed as being a Stevensville resident. He was previously convicted in Florida of possessing child sexually abusive material.
