DUNNELLON, Fla. (TCD) — A 31-year-old man was arrested on several charges for allegedly traveling to Ohio to pick up his underage girlfriend, driving her to Florida, and planning to hide her until they could get married.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday, Jan. 3, an FBI agent contacted a Marion County detective regarding a missing child case out of Ohio. FBI agents reportedly learned the missing teen’s “World of Warcraft” account had been accessed from an address in Dunnellon. Investigators traced the location to Thomas Ebersole’s house and said he also logged into his gaming profile from the same address.
Law enforcement went to Ebersole’s home, and he allegedly initially said he did not know the teen. During further questioning, he admitted to picking up the teen from her home in Ohio and driving her back to Florida. He reportedly stated he was “in a romantic relationship with the juvenile victim and was going to hide her in his home with plans for her to become his wife.”
Investigators obtained messages between Ebersole and the victim, which the sheriff’s office said “further outlined his plans to meet the victim in Ohio and engage in sexual activity despite knowing that he was committing a crime.”
Ebersole was arrested on charges of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity, interfering with child custody, and sheltering an unmarried minor.
According to Ebersole’s arrest affidavit shared by Law & Crime, Ebersole and the teen call each other pet names, including “darlin,” “baby girl,” “little wolf,” “babe,” and others. They also texted each other “ILY” (I love you) and “ILYSM” (I love you so much).
Ebersole reportedly admitted to officials that he kissed the teen girl in his car, but “not much” in his house. Ebersole had hickeys on his neck that he said the victim gave to him.
The affidavit alleges the two texted and joked about their relationship being a crime and how Ebersole knew the girl was only 16 years old. Ebersole does not have any prior criminal history, according to the affidavit.
Ebersole was booked into the Marion County Jail and is being held without bond.
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