Police are desperately hunting for a missing teenage girl who is believed to be travelling with a convicted sex offender more than 20 years her senior, according to reports.
Autumn Van Zandt, 17, hasn’t been seen since Tuesday when she was spotted in Fredericksburg with 39-year-old Ronnie Keene Reel, and police suspect they may try to travel out of state.
Van Zandt is believed to be “missing under voluntary circumstances,” police said, but her young age and suspected company have left family terrified.
The age of consent in Virginia is 18.
Reel has a terrifying history of sexual violence — he confessed to sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy in 2021.
But he was cut loose on a plea deal after prosecutors with Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano’s office failed to meet crucial evidence deadlines in his case, ABC 7 reported.
“Please help us find Autumn,” the Fredericksburg Police Department said in a statement posted to Facebook.
Van Zandt is five-foot, seven-inches, about 135 pounds and has brown eyes and hair.
She also has a heart tattoo on her hip, and was last seen in jean shorts and a black top.
