Missing GA Girl Taken To Ohio By Man She Met Online, Sheriff Says

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Antonio Agustin's last name and age.

GAINESVILLE, GA — Maria Gomez-Perez, a 12-year-old Georgia girl who has been missing since May 29, disappeared with a 34-year-old man she met online, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said Friday.

Gomez-Perez was safely found in Dover, Ohio after being missing from her Westside Drive home in Gainesville for nearly two months, Couch said at a news conference Friday morning.

The young girl was found Thursday with Antonio Agustin, a Guatemala native who had been living in northeast Ohio, Couch said.

The sheriff added Gomez-Perez had been speaking with Agustin and others via Facebook Messenger and other apps prior to her disappearance, telling them she was "unhappy and wanted to leave home."

"With that being said, remember Maria is the victim in this case," Couch said. "She's 12-years-old."

Agustin drove from Ohio to Gainesville to pick up Gomez-Perez, and the two returned to Ohio, Couch said.

Last week, Gomez-Perez created a new Facebook page and contacted her dad via Messenger to tell him she was OK but she would not be returning home, Couch said. She asked her dad not to look for her, the sheriff added.

Gomez-Perez's dad told investigators about the message, and they were able to obtain a phone number associated with the Facebook page's IP address, Couch said. The number was then tracked to Dover.

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Four Hall County investigators traveled this week to Dover, where they then tracked the phone to a city swimming pool, Couch said. They saw Gomez-Perez with Agustin, Couch said.

Tuscarawas County deputies and Hall County investigators then followed Gomez-Perez and Agustin to a nearby shopping center parking lot, Couch said. Gomez-Perez was recovered, and Agustin was arrested, Couch said.

Agustin is in the custody of Ohio authorities and will face charges in Ohio and Georgia, Couch said.

Gomez-Perez received a wellness check at a hospital and was set to return home Friday, Couch said. Authorities said she was "in good physical condition."

"I can't let this moment go without employing our parents, grandparents and guardians to watch over their children very closely. Technology is a wonderful thing. It helped us locate Maria; but also, technology can be used for evil," Couch said.

"It's why Maria was able to leave Gainesville with a stranger and travel 9 hours away from home. So please, know what your children are doing and who they are communicating with. They are our most vulnerable and our most valuable citizens, and it's our duty to take care of them."

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Search for Maria

After her disappearance was reported, a massive search for Gomez-Perez ensued that included boat and drone searches, billboards and door-to-door canvassing. Although a Levi's Call was denied in Gomez-Perez's case, authorities issued a be on the lookout for her.

Anonymous donors pledged a $50,000 reward for information relating to Gomez-Perez's disappearance. The reward will not be paid to Gomez-Perez, after her outreach led to her recovery, Couch said.

The search went national when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared her missing persons information.

"We're very fortunate to be able to locate her," Couch said. "Our investigators did a tremendous job and stayed on this case night and day to locate her, and it's something we're very fortunate for."

The sheriff's office received over a 100 tips regarding Gomez-Perez's whereabouts but none were successful, authorities previously said.

Couch thanks the Gainesville community for its support during the widespread search. He noted the search efforts increase awareness that children should be protected.

"We are a community that believes in prayer - I do - and I think all of the prayers that people (gave) helped us in this situation," Couch said. " ... There was such an outpouring of love and concern, and that's very heartwarming. You don't see that a lot in parts of the country these days."