COLUMBUS, OH – A 45-year-old Bremen man is in federal custody today after a cross-country kidnapping plot was foiled by a highway traffic accident, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Virgil Larson faces a litany of federal charges, including kidnapping and sexual exploitation of a minor, following an investigation that spanned from the hills of North Carolina to the highways of Southeast Ohio.
A Crash Leads to a Rescue
The case broke wide open in early April when Hocking County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 33 near the Athens County line. Larson had reportedly driven his vehicle into the median and told arriving deputies he had fallen asleep at the wheel.
Inside the car was a young girl whom Larson claimed was an “18-year-old friend.” However, when the girl was unable to provide her birth year, deputies separated the two. They quickly discovered the “friend” was actually a 12-year-old child reported missing from North Carolina.
In a dramatic turn of events, North Carolina law enforcement officers were actually at the girl’s family home conducting a missing person investigation when the victim’s cell phone rang; it was a Hocking County deputy on the other end confirming she had been found.
Digital Trail and Threats
Federal investigators allege that Larson targeted the victim on Snapchat and via text messages. A forensic review of those communications revealed a dark pattern of coercion. According to court documents:
- Larson allegedly threatened to kill others if the victim did not send sexually explicit images.
- The victim was coerced into traveling with Larson back to Ohio following their online interactions.
Heavy Legal Stakes
Larson, who is a registered sex offender with at least two prior related convictions, now faces five federal counts:
- Kidnapping of a minor
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
- Coercion and enticement of a minor
- Possession of child pornography
- Travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct
If convicted on all counts, Larson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
“This case is a stark reminder of the dangers minors face online,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. Larson is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court today at 1:30 PM.
