Jade Gregory: Florida girl, 12, who stole dad's car drives 400 miles with pal, 14, to meet online predator
GAINESVILLE, ALABAMA: A Florida girl, Jade Gregory, 12, and her friend Khloe Larson stole the car from Gregory's father and took it on a five-hour joyride across the interstate to meet an online predator. This prompted a full-scale federal search and currently an FBI investigation.
Gregory and Larson, 14, traveled more than 400 miles from Gainesville, Florida, to Alabama before being discovered safe by law enforcement. They were supposedly communicating with an unidentified individual online and planning to meet him in Louisiana as they were traveling in Gregory's parents' Ford Taurus. Their untimely disappearance last week sparked an extensive federal hunt and a commotion across much of the US South. The two, who are now safe, had been missing for less than 24 hours. They deliberately left their homes and traveled alone, the feds further stated on Wednesday, April 5. The feds are currently investigating the possibility that the girls were lured by a sex trafficker.
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'We have cancelled our active missing children alert'
The Union County Sheriff's Office issued a statement on Thursday, April 6, immediately after the girls were discovered, saying, "We have cancelled our active missing children alert. Jade Gregory and Khloe Larsen have been located safe in Bayou La Batre, Alabama," according to DailyMail.
The statement continued, "Many thanks to the multiple agencies involved throughout Florida, Alabama and Louisiana to include the FBI and FDLE [Florida Department of Law Enforcement]. Thank you for all the tips and information received."
The precise location and source of the children's discovery were not immediately known. Police did not clarify on Monday, April 10 whether the discovery was the result of an outsider's information. An Amber Alert was issued for the children on Wednesday, April 5 at about 11.50 am; it was discontinued at 4 pm. The FBI is currently looking into a person they think the two girls were going to meet.
'I thought the internet generation had more sense'
Many have reacted to the incident on Twitter with one person wrote, "Wait!? What? I was told drivers licenses prevented someone from driving a car on public roads. How did she get a DL at 12?" Another person wrote, "That's a true friend right there..." A third person wrote, "I thought the internet generation had more sense." This other person wrote, "This is why I make all the kids in my family watch murder documentaries when they come visit. If you destroy their faith in humanity early, they are less at risk for behavior like this." One person wrote, "So, was it a fun party?"
Wait!? What?
— Dr. Genius, Esq. (@KCitons) April 10, 2023
I was told drivers licenses prevented someone from driving a car on public roads.
How did she get a DL at 12?
I thought the internet generation had more sense.
— Craig Zimmerman (@craigzimmerman6) April 11, 2023
This is why I make all the kids in my family watch murder documentaries when they come visit. If you destroy their faith in humanity early, they are less at risk for behavior like this 😐
— Madame Heretic (@madameheretic) April 10, 2023
This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online