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Missing 13-year-old Plainfield Township girl found safe, man charged with kidnapping after bus trip across country

Authorities say a 19-year-old and 13-year-old took a bus to North Carolina from Grand Rapids. He now is facing kidnapping charges.
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Authorities say a 19-year-old and 13-year-old took a bus to North Carolina from Grand Rapids. He now is facing kidnapping charges.

Authorities believe youth voluntarily left West Michigan with 19-year-old, both found in North Carolina

A missing 13-year-old West Michigan girl has been found safe, while authorities said Tuesday, they are charging a 19-year-old man with kidnapping.

Whitehead said the girl had disappeared Sunday evening.

Authorities say, they believed she voluntary left with 19-year-old Marquaress Josephs, who lives in New York. It is believed by the KCSO that Josephs travelled to Grand Rapids to meet Whitehead on Sunday, when they both boarded a bus headed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

When they got there, authorities say they were able to locate the two, placing the 13-year-old Plainfield Township girl into protective custody, and arresting Josephs.

He now is facing kidnapping charges, according to the Kent County Prosecutor’s office. According to the Michigan Penal Code Act 328 Of 1931 any person who kidnaps a child under the age of 14 faces up to life in prison if found guilty.

Authorities say the girl is still in protective custody while arraignments are being made to return her to her family in Michigan.

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