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16/07/2003
Missing schoolgirl is safe and well as ex-marine is arrested
Police have stated that missing British schoolgirl Shevaun Pennington is "safe and well" and in the UK, following the arrest in Germany of the former US marine who went missing with the 12-year-old.
Toby Studabaker (31) was apprehended in Frankfurt as part of a joint effort by police forces from four different countries.
The arrest comes on the fourth day of a manhunt that started last Saturday, when Shevaun left her family home in Manchester to meet with Mr Studabaker, whom she had met over the internet. Having arranged to meet him at Manchester Airport, the schoolgirl packed a case full of clothes and took her passport, and the pair caught a flight to London, before travelling on to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, both of which were pre-booked flights.
From there on, their movements became unclear, and two offices from Greater Manchester police flew in to France to study airport CCTV footage to try to ascertain what flights the two may have caught from the airport's Terminal One, which serves Australasia, the Far East and numerous US cities.
However, Mr Studabaker was arrested on suspicion of abduction by Greater Manchester Police on Wednesday afternoon, with the assistance of German police force and the FBI. Shevaun was not with Mr Studabaker at the time of the arrest, and police have revealed that she is now with officers in an unknown location in the UK, as their investigation continues.
It is thought that both Mr Studebaker and Shevaun were in telephone contact with their respective families throughout the four days. Mr Studebaker, who originates from Michigan, had served with the US Marines for three years, before leaving in June this year on the grounds of injury.
Family members have claimed Mr Studebaker was misled during their email exchanges into believing Shavaun Pennington was 19 years old. However, previous - although unproven - allegations of child abuse are surfacing as UK police continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
(CL)
Toby Studabaker (31) was apprehended in Frankfurt as part of a joint effort by police forces from four different countries.
The arrest comes on the fourth day of a manhunt that started last Saturday, when Shevaun left her family home in Manchester to meet with Mr Studabaker, whom she had met over the internet. Having arranged to meet him at Manchester Airport, the schoolgirl packed a case full of clothes and took her passport, and the pair caught a flight to London, before travelling on to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, both of which were pre-booked flights.
From there on, their movements became unclear, and two offices from Greater Manchester police flew in to France to study airport CCTV footage to try to ascertain what flights the two may have caught from the airport's Terminal One, which serves Australasia, the Far East and numerous US cities.
However, Mr Studabaker was arrested on suspicion of abduction by Greater Manchester Police on Wednesday afternoon, with the assistance of German police force and the FBI. Shevaun was not with Mr Studabaker at the time of the arrest, and police have revealed that she is now with officers in an unknown location in the UK, as their investigation continues.
It is thought that both Mr Studebaker and Shevaun were in telephone contact with their respective families throughout the four days. Mr Studebaker, who originates from Michigan, had served with the US Marines for three years, before leaving in June this year on the grounds of injury.
Family members have claimed Mr Studebaker was misled during their email exchanges into believing Shavaun Pennington was 19 years old. However, previous - although unproven - allegations of child abuse are surfacing as UK police continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
(CL)
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