Claiborne Co. Runaways Caught at Chatter's House in La.
By Tearsa Smith
6 News Reporter
CLAIBORNE COUNTY (WATE) -- According to police, two 16-year-old
cousins left Claiborne County Monday morning to meet a man they'd
been chatting with online. But when they reached Southern Louisiana,
police were waiting.
Sheriff's deputies in Southern Louisiana have the girls in custody
Monday night. Their mothers' Internet investigating helped police
find where they were headed.
Like most teens, 16-year-old cousins Jenny and Joanne Parker used
Internet chat rooms to make friends. Early this summer, Jenny
met a man who had the e-mail address "downunder_south at
yahoo.com." He went by the name Daniel Boone.
"I don't know if Jenny has lied about her age to this boy,"
her mom, Janet Parker, said. "I do know that this boy is
18-years-old and is an adult. And I really don't think he has
any business in a teen chat room talking to the little girls anyway."
The two chatters became friends. Janet said the man even told
her daughter he loved her and wanted to
take care of her.
Just before 1:30 a.m. Monday, Jenny printed a map and stole her
brother's car. She and Joanne drove to Sulpher, Louisiana where
the man lives.
"My daughter has a daughter's permit. Jenny doesn't even
have a permit," Joanne's mom, Sharon Parker said. "My
daughter knows how to drive but she's never drove on the interstate
until today."
The girls made it safely to the man's house. However, Louisiana
authorities were waiting for them.
Investigating Officer Bill Davidson said, "One of the things
anytime that we're dealing with things like this over the Internet.
Most people that use e-mail services such as this never give accurate
information in their profiles."
That's something that scares both mothers. They thought their
honor students wouldn't do this. "No, never. Not in a million
years. She's an honor student. I thought I knew my daughter but
I don't."
The missing teen alert wasn't issued as an amber alert because
the girls weren't abducted.
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