Harrowing details emerge as missing 14-year-old girl is found in a closet 400 miles from home a month after she vanished.

• Leah Chiappino

Police arrested 35-year-old David E. Roark on multiple charges after he allegedly abducted the child from Arkansas.

Roark also had outstanding warrants from Kentucky, according to cops.

His arrest comes after an investigation by the Exploited and Missing Child Unit and the White County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas.

The Wichita Police department were contacted by a White County sergeant after midnight on Wednesday.

The officer was looking for help in locating a 14-year-old girl who left home in early November and never returned, Officer Chad Ditch said.

A lead in the case came when the girl was seen with a man in a convenience store before leaving with him in a car.

White County investigators learned that the suspect was possibly in the Wichita area.

Following an investigation, police found out that Roark was likely staying at a nearby home.

He was arrested when he was seen leaving the house.

Officers then found the missing teen inside a closet.

Both the girl and Roark were interviewed by The Exploited and Missing Child Unit.

Roark is being held in jail on a $1.5million bond.

The U.S. Sun contacted the district attorney’s office for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Parents of Etan Patz Move Out of NYC 40 Years After Boy's Disappearance

The parents Etan Patz, the 6-year-old boy who disappeared from a New York City street while walking to the school bus, have moved out of the city — 40 years after losing their son.

Julie and Stan Patz sold their Prince Street loft and moved to Hawaii, where their other son Ari lives, the New York Post reported. The apartment sold for nearly $4 million in July, according to Street Easy.

Ari Patz was just 2 when Etan went missing. The couple also have a daughter, Shira, who was 8 at the time.

Julie had watched Etan from the window of the Prince Street home as he walked to his school bus stop on May 25, 1979. It was the first time he was making the trek by himself. 

But Etan never made it home that day. His parents later learned that he never even made it to school. Droves of police officers and bloodhounds descended on the streets of Manhattan, but the boy was never found, and the case eventually went cold. He was declared legally dead in 2001.

Then, in 2012, a man confessed to police that he killed Etan. Pedro Hernandez, who was an 18-year-old stock boy at a bodega near Etan’s bus stop, was arrested and charged with murder. After his 2016 trial, he was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering the little boy.

His remains have never been found.

President Ronal Reagan declared May 25 National Missing Children's Day in the U.S. on the fourth anniversary of Etan's disappearance. The designation spread worldwide in 2001, and May 25 became International Missing Children's Day.

Deaths of Sierra, Noelani Robinson magnify human trafficking problem in Milwaukee: ‘We’re not talking about it enough’

Preventing human trafficking

BY HANNAH JEWELL

MILWAUKEE -- The tragic deaths of Noelani Robinson and her mother, Sierra, highlight a real problem we have in the city: human trafficking. The community rallied behind the search for Noelani and as we mourn the terrible loss together, there are many other children in Milwaukee who could use our help.

"Any time that we lose a child, especially in this manner, is extremely disheartening," said Reggie Moore, director of the Office of Violence Prevention.

Reggie Moore is the director of the City of Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention.

"On a day-to-day basis, young people are being trafficked and exploited as well as adults in our community and we're not talking about it enough," said Moore.

Noelani Robinson's mom, Sierra, was one of those victims. Police say Dariaz Higgins was her pimp. Noelani was caught in the middle of a dangerous world hiding in plain sight.

"You can see someone in the street who you have no idea is involved in human trafficking," Moore said. "When you look at the data and the research, you're more likely to be trafficked by someone you know."

The problem is prevalent in Milwaukee, which is known nationally as a major hub.

"When you look at our proximity to the Dells, to Chicago, and to other metropolitan areas, those are contributing factors," said Moore.

Moore says education and raising awareness is a start to help prevent human trafficking. The goal is to train more people to look for signs and not turn a blind eye.

"This is happening on a regular basis," said Moore.

Partnering with the Human Trafficking Task Force of Greater Milwaukee, the Office of Violence Prevention is making it a priority to raise awareness and help victims.

"What we're asking people to do is sustain the outrage that they feel today at the loss of this beautiful young lady..." Moore said. "...and look at the children that are still with us and really say, what can we do?"

Right under our nose, another little girl or boy is waiting for help.


"She was a beautiful toddler and her life was cut short as a result of human trafficking. Her unfortunate death is a reminder of the dangers of human trafficking," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said.

You can get involved with the human trafficking task force, there's a series of events and fundraisers to try to support organizations that are working directly to help rescue folks as well as to promote accountability for suspects.

Amber Alert issued for 14-year-old Rochester girl

An Amber Alert was issued Monday evening for a 14-year-old Rochester girl. 

Rochester Police believe Joanna Coates was abducted on LaSalle Street in Rochester around 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1. The child was taken under conditions that lead police to believe they are in imminent danger of serious harm and or death. 

Coates is described as a white female with purple hair and blue eyes. She is approximately 5'4" and weighs about 100 pounds. She was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black leggings, and Timberland boots.

Police believe the suspect is 41-year-old Robert Gonzalez. He is described as an Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. He is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs about 185 pounds.

News10NBC spoke with Coates' mother Monday night who says she believes her daughter was taken right outside of their house on LaSalle Street by their neighbor. 

Coates' mother says the neighbor started befriending her daughter over the summer and would constantly try to hang out with the teen. 

"He's a junkie, he sells drugs, he pimps girls out. I don't want my daughter to be one of those people," said Linda Hollart, Coates' mother. "I am asking anybody, everybody, I don't care where she is, just bring her home safely to me. I love you, we love you. If you're watching this Joanna, please come home." 

Gonzalez was last seen traveling southeast, possibly heading to New York City. 

Anyone with any information on this abduction is asked to call 911 immediately. 

News10NBC will continue to update this story on-air and online as more information becomes available.

Abducted Girl's Hero Describes Car Chase Rescue:

Brett Fletcher

Abducted Girl's Hero Describes Car Chase Rescue -
By CBSNews: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories​/2010/10/06/earlyshow/main6931​787.shtml (News Video.) Thank God for heroes!

Abducted Girl's Hero Describes Car Chase Rescue - CBS News

www.cbsnews.com

The Early Show: Abducted Girl's Hero Describes Car Chase Rescue - Unemployed Construction Worker Trailed Vehicle Carrying Kidnapped 8-Year-Old; Girl Had Been Sexually Abused. (News Video)