Massachusetts man accused of abducting Stanly County teen

NORWOOD, N.C. — A teenage girl who police say was kidnapped from Stanly County was found safe in Massachusetts.

On Saturday night, police arrested Michael Oliver, 39, in Berlin, which is about 40 miles west of Boston.

“She got home recently,” said the grandmother, who didn’t want to be identified. “We’re still just trying to put all the pieces together.”

Police said they found the teen with Oliver at a hotel in Berlin, Massachusetts.

“I will say that we wanted to thank the informant for stepping forward and doing the right thing by letting us know what was going on,” said the grandmother.

Oliver, of Clinton, Massachusetts, was arraigned on Monday for charges of human trafficking and abduction of a child as well as soliciting a child with an electronic device.

“They met online and had had an online relationship for a little over a year,” said Norwood Police Chief James Wilson. “And he drove down here and picked her up and transported her back to Massachusetts.”

Wilson said his department coordinated closely with law enforcement in Massachusetts.

“We had used some investigative techniques that we were able to locate exactly where their position was. and the teams up there responded quickly,” Wilson said.

He said it’s the only way to get a positive result when dealing with predators.

“They give them attention,” Wilson said. “They give them affection online and a lot of times, that’s just enough to draw them into that circle.”

It’s a lesson in vigilance that the grateful grandmother learned.

“I’m so glad that she’s safe,” her grandmother said. “She is OK. It was a happy ending. Could have been a lot scarier. Hold your babies tight, monitor their social media, limit their access online without supervision.”

ABC affiliate WCVB in Boston said Oliver waived extradition and will go to Stanly County to face other charges.

>>Tune into Eyewitness News at 11 p.m. for complete coverage of this story.

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