Virgina man facing felony charges after keeping teen hostage for nearly four years

BLACKSBURG, Va. (NBC, KYMA) - A four-year missing persons case from Milwaukee, Wisconsin was finally closed after the victim was found in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Now, a local man is is facing felony charges in two states for the kidnapping.

The man charged with the crimes is Owen Anderson who allegedly began communication in 2019 when the victim was just 12-years-old.

According to the criminal complaint, over the next three years, Anderson blackmailed and manipulated the victim into sending explicit messages and images.

Then on June 23, 2022, the victim left her home, with police saying she was following Anderson's instructions and took a ride share to Chicago.

Once meeting, Anderson allegedly reset and disposed of her phone and took her out of the state.

Then on June 26, the complaint says she arrived at the house where she would be held for the next 4 years.

During that period, the criminal complaint stated the defendant would not allow the victim to attend school and was repeatedly physically and sexually abused.

Her nightmare came to an end on May 23, when Blacksburg police responded to a domestic dispute and took the victim to a local resource center.

On May 26, Blacksburg PD arrested Anderson. He was charged with abduction of a child, child endangerment and strangulation.

The victim was reunited with her family soon after his arrest.