UPDATE: Dec. 29 at 6 p.m.
A 13-year-old Kentucky girl who had been missing for more than two months was found safe in Maryland on Friday after a community tip led police to her location.
Wynter Wagoner was discovered inside a home on Dalewood Drive in Silver Spring, Maryland, by Montgomery County police working with U.S. Marshals and the Rockcastle County Sheriff's Office. She was taken to a hospital after being found.
Christian Alexander Delgado, 37, was arrested at the scene and now faces kidnapping charges. He made his first court appearance Monday, where he requested to be released on bond but was denied. Delgado will be extradited to Kentucky to face the charges.
"My initial reaction was overwhelming relief," said Johnny Miller, Wynter's cousin. "I felt a rush of emotion, gratitude, disbelief, and thankfulness all at once. After so much fear and uncertainty, knowing she was found brought a sense of peace we hadn't felt in weeks."
Wynter was last seen by her foster parents on October 14 in the Orlando community of Rockcastle County. Her disappearance sparked an extensive search effort involving family members and countless volunteers who worked to keep her name and picture visible through posters, flyers and social media campaigns.
"Because of you, the community, that tip was called into the police," Miller said.
The community's persistent efforts to maintain awareness about Wynter's case proved crucial in her recovery. A Facebook group dedicated to finding her helped keep her story in the public eye.
"The Facebook group helped by keeping Wynter's name and picture in front of people every single day, because the community kept sharing, talking about her, and refusing to let her be forgotten, the right person saw it, and that led to the tip that helped bring her home," Miller said.
Montgomery County, Maryland police are reminding parents to remain vigilant and monitor their children's online activity.
"Wynter went missing and for weeks, the community helped keep her name and picture visible," Miller said. "Because of that awareness, a tip came in that led law enforcement to her location in Maryland, and she was found safe."
Members of Delgado's family declined to be interviewed after his court hearing.
UPDATE: Dec. 29 at 3 p.m.
According to a WRC-TV, Christian Delgado asked to released on bond during a court appearance, however, the judge denied that request.
He remains in custody and will be extradited back to Kentucky at an unknown time.
UPDATE: Dec. 27 at 12:30 p.m.
In an interview with LEX 18, Chief of Patrol Darren Francke of the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland confirmed that 13-year-old Wynter Wagoner was kidnapped.
According to police, the suspect has been identified as 37-year-old Christian Delgado.
A press release states that police in Maryland were dispatched to a home on Dalewood Drive just before 6:00 p.m. on Dec. 26 after receiving a tip that Wagoner might be in Montgomery County, Maryland.
According to the release, officers and U.S. Marshal deputies located Delgado inside the residence with Wagoner.
The release states that Delgado was arrested without further incident, and Wagoner was taken to an area hospital for evaluation.
According to the release, the Rockcastle County Sheriff's Office obtained an arrest warrant charging Delgado with kidnapping, in which he is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, where he is waiting to be extradited to Kentucky.
Original Story:
According to the Rockcastle County Sheriff Shannon Franklin, missing 13-year-old Wynter Wagoner has been found safe.
Franklin thanked both the US Marshal's Service and the Montgomery County, Maryland Sheriff's Department. Wagoner went missing from Orlando, Kentucky on October 14, and Franklin reported that her family has been informed.
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Family's first Thanksgiving without missing teen Wynter Wagoner
Wagoner's father, Dustin Wagoner, provided LEX 18 with a statement after his daughter was found.
"Wynter has been found. She is safe and that's about all the information we can give at this time," Wagoner said. "It's very, very new - it just happened so the details are not clear at the moment. I don't want to give any misinformation (and) I hope you understand...I do also want to say thank you for all the efforts in trying to find my daughter and all the prayers for her safety. We do truly appreciate it and are so thankful she's okay."
More information is expected to come as the investigation continues.
