COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 12-year-old North Carolina girl was found alive in Ohio after a crash on Highway 33 led deputies to a man now facing federal kidnapping and child exploitation charges. Investigators say the child had been reported missing earlier in April and was discovered in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Virgil Larson when he crashed into a median near the Hocking–Athens county line.
Larson, of Bremen in Fairfield County, now faces five federal charges, including kidnapping a minor and sexual exploitation offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio. He remained in custody Friday and is scheduled to appear in federal court at 1:30 p.m.
Crash leads to recovery of missing child
The breakthrough came while North Carolina authorities were still at the girl’s home investigating her disappearance. Her parents received a call from the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office—from their daughter’s own phone—confirming deputies had located her after responding to a single-vehicle crash.
According to court documents, Larson told deputies he had fallen asleep at the wheel and needed help getting his car out of a ditch. He allegedly claimed the girl was “just a friend” and said she was 18 years old.
Deputies grew suspicious when the girl could not state her birth year. After separating her from Larson, they confirmed she was 12.
Online contact escalated to threats, investigators say
Federal investigators say Larson had been communicating with the child through Snapchat and text messages before traveling from Ohio to North Carolina.
A forensic review of those messages revealed escalating behavior, including threats. According to the affidavit, the girl was told others would be killed if she did not send sexually explicit images.
Larson was first arrested on April 7 in Hocking County on local charges and has remained behind bars since. Federal prosecutors say the new charges will supersede the local case.
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Key Points
• Missing 12-year-old from North Carolina found after crash in Hocking County, Ohio
• Virgil Larson, 45, faces five federal charges including kidnapping and sexual exploitation
• Investigators say online threats and coercion preceded cross-state travel
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Prior convictions and potential sentence
Prosecutors say Larson is a registered sex offender with at least two prior related convictions, a factor that could weigh heavily if the case proceeds to sentencing.
The federal charges include sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt or possession of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and kidnapping. If convicted on all counts, Larson could face up to life in prison.
The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, with assistance from the FBI’s Cincinnati Division, the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, and the Stokes County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office.
Dominick S. Gerace II, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie confirmed the charges alongside local sheriffs from both states.
Cross-state investigation highlights rapid coordination
The sequence of events underscores how quickly missing-person investigations can evolve across jurisdictions. North Carolina deputies were still gathering information at the girl’s home when Ohio authorities made contact, linking the disappearance to the crash scene hundreds of miles away.
That timing proved critical, allowing law enforcement to confirm the child’s identity and intervene before further harm could occur.
While officials have not released additional details about how long the girl was with Larson, charging documents indicate the contact began online earlier in April and escalated rapidly.
Case moves to federal court
Larson’s federal court appearance marks the next step in a case that now spans two states and multiple agencies. Prosecutors have not indicated whether additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.
The girl has been recovered, and authorities have not disclosed further details about her condition.
The case remains active, with Larson in federal custody and facing charges that could result in a life sentence if convicted.
