Detectives rescued a Gurnee-area child who went missing and was found Saturday in the car of a man who traveled from Georgia to Lake County to meet her, with the sheriff saying it is a “parent’s worst nightmare.”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4:40 a.m. Saturday to a home in unincorporated Gurnee for a report of a missing child.
The juvenile, a girl under the age of 14, had never run away before, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said.
It was “very concerning” that she disappeared in the middle of the night, he said.
Sheriff’s detectives responded to the scene to conduct an investigation.
Covelli said detectives discovered the girl’s cell phone was not functioning and she was unable to be located through any of her electronics.
Detectives found that Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez, 24, of Norcross, Georgia, had been previously communicating with the girl, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s detectives were able to determine Fuerte Perez made plans to drive from Georgia to pick up the girl.
It appeared Fuerte Perez told the girl he wanted a “romantic relationship” with her, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s detectives developed information on a vehicle Fuerte Perez may have been driving and utilized public safety camera technology to locate the vehicle at the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville.
Both the child and Fuerte Perez were located inside the vehicle in a parking lot around 6 p.m., Covelli said.
The child did not appear to be physically injured but was transported to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center for specialized attention.
“This type of case is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our Criminal Investigations Division took this case seriously and worked tirelessly from the moment the girl was reported missing until she was safely located,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“While there will undoubtedly be a long road to recovery and healing, I am grateful the victim was found safe and is physically okay. I am proud of everyone who played a role in rescuing this young girl and bringing the offender to the first steps of justice,” Idleburg said.
Fuerte Perez was transported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved two counts of solicitation of child pornography, a Class X felony, and one count of unlawful possession of cocaine, a Class 4 felony. Additional charges are likely.
Fuerte Perez is set to appear in First Appearance Court on Sunday morning.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office intends to file a petition to detain him in custody while awaiting trial.