15-year-old Kannapolis girl rescued from sex abuser in Illinois, sheriff says

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — An Illinois man coaxed a 15-year-old Kannapolis girl to take a bus to Chicago so he could sexually abuse her at his home, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The United States Marshals Office got information on Tuesday that the girl could be at a home in Green Oaks, Illinois.

Local detectives saw Andrew W. Szech, 43, leaving the home with the victim on Wednesday. They rescued the girl and arrested Szech.

“Some of the same techniques and methods used to find fugitives (is used) to also find missing kids,” said U.S. Marshal Deputy Addison Freeman.

Sources told Channel 9 she had been missing since February.

Investigators said Szech has been talking to the victim online since June.

He encouraged her to take a bus from North Carolina to Chicago early the next month.

Szech then allegedly picked the victim up from the Chicago bus station, took her to his home in Green Oaks, and sexually abused her, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office stated.

The victim is safely away from her abuser and has been placed in care, the sheriff’s office said.

Erin Moody with the Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center in Rowan County said online solicitation can happen to anyone with access to the internet.

She said predators use flattery and gifts to groom children and even pretend to be kids themselves.

“This is happening 12 to 15 (year olds),” Moody said. “We’ve definitely seen it younger.”

Moody said open conversation is one of the best tools to protect children.

“We have to make it regularly routinely, often clear to kids, your safety’s the most important thing,” Moody said

“There is not much worse than exploiting a vulnerable child,” said Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg in a statement. “We will go to all lengths to rescue children and victims from trafficking and sexual abuse. I am so thankful this child is safe and can begin to receive the assistance and help she needs to begin healing from this terrible situation. I am thankful for the strong collaboration our Office has with our federal and local partners, which led to this rescue and prosecution.”

Szech remains held in the Lake County Jail.

“During an investigation for a missing juvenile, Kannapolis Police found evidence that the juvenile was in Illinois,” Kannapolis police said in a statement. “Working closely with the U.S. Marshal’s Office the juvenile has been located and will be returning to Kannapolis.”

A search warrant at Szech’s home revealed that he had:

• One firearm
• Over 2,700 grams of cannabis
• Nearly 30 grams of psilocybin laced candy
• Over 55 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• 27 cannabis plants
• Over 55 Adderall pills

Szech was charged with:

• Three counts of criminal sexual abuse (Class 1 felonies)
• Unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to deliver (Class 1 felony)
• Unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver (Class 1 felony)
• Unlawful possession of cannabis (Class 2 felony)
• Unlawful possession of Adderall with intent to deliver (Class 2 felony)
• Aggravated battery (Class 3 felony)
• Unlawful possession of cannabis plants (Class 3 felony)
• Two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm (Class 4 felonies)
• Reckless conduct (Class A misdemeanor)
• Aggravated assault (Class A misdemeanor)

Additional charges are expected.

Homeland Security was also involved in the investigation.

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