Michigan man charged with kidnapping Mount Vernon teenager faces up to 30 years in prison

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal grand jury in Seattle has indicted a Michigan man accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old Mount Vernon girl because he traveled with the intent to commit a sexual act with a minor, officials said the Ministry of Justice announced on Wednesday.

Keith Daniel Freerksen, 30, faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is being held at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac.

The 14-year-old Mount Vernon girl went missing on Jan. 5, according to case records.

An FBI agent specializing in crimes against children and human trafficking assisted local police in the investigation. Law enforcement identified Freerksen as a suspect after analyzing information about Uber rides purchased for the girl by an unknown person. Freerksen is a registered sex offender in Michigan.

Investigators tracked his movements in the northern part of the state using license plate readers and information about Freerksen’s registered vehicle. According to case files, they also recorded his return trip through Idaho and Illinois in the days after the teen’s disappearance.

When South Haven Township police executed a search warrant on Jan. 31, they found the girl and arrested Freerksen.

The missing teen’s mother told KING 5 in mid-January that her daughter was lured by an adult with evil intentions. She also said she believed her daughter was video chatting with a random man she met online.

“This perpetrator was able to reach my child from across the country through social media platforms,” said the victim’s mother. “He was able to use these platforms to groom my child for an extended period of time.” How many more children need to be victimized before these social media platforms are held to a higher standard? How many families still have to suffer like mine? The lack of responsibility not only puts my child at risk of being abused online, but also puts all children at the mercy of those who seek them out online. This is a time for change.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. For additional resources, visit the Washington State Department of Health website.

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