MISSING 12 YEAR OLD GIRL IN FRANCE

SkyNews ^ | 07/14/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

The 12-year-old girl who went missing from her home in Wigan more than 48-hours ago, has flown to France with an ex-US Marine who she met on the Internet.

Shevaun Pennington is believed to have met 31-year-old Toby Studebaker on Saturday morning after he flew into Manchester from Detroit.

The pair then flew to London, Heathrow in the afternoon, before catching a flight to Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport, landing in France at 8pm, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.

Shevaun's parents first alerted police that their daughter was missing after she failed to return home by 11pm on Saturday night.

All-ports alert

Officers became concerned Shevaun had runaway with Studebaker after they searched her computer and found out the pair, who had been conversing via the Internet for a year, had arranged to meet in Manchester.

Shevaun had also taken clothes with her and her passport was also missing from her room.

Her father said she had asked for it the previous week, saying she needed it to get a new bus pass.

An all-ports alert has been issued and Greater Manchester Police are liasing with French authorities and Interpol.

'Bring her home'

Police say Studebaker, who left the military on July 4, may not know how old Shevaun is.

Her parents describe her as very mature for her age, perhaps looking two or three years older than she is.

Earlier, Mrs Pennington appealed directly to her daughter to come home, saying: "Please we just want you back, we're not angry with you, we love you very much and just want you to come home.

"If she is with Toby, please do the right thing and bring her home to us."

Her father Stephen said that Shevaun spends a lot of her spare time on the computer.

Mr Pennington added: "We keep it in the kitchen and knew she was talking to people on-line, but didn't know there was anyone in particular."

Last Updated: 15:11 UK, Monday July 14, 2003

[wideawake]

Uggghhh! (shudder).

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[Darksheare]

Yup.
He's an ex-marine.
No real former marine would be that stupid.

[cspackler]

Her father believed she needed a passport to get a bus pass? The computer's in the kitchen, and they had no idea she was making elaborate plans to run off with a Marine?Maybe she's better off where she is.

[A_perfect_lady]

Police say Studebaker, who left the military on July 4, may not know how old Shevaun is. Her parents describe her as very mature for her age, perhaps looking two or three years older than she is.

Heh. "Your Honor, I know now that she's only 12, but I swear, she had the body of a 14 year old." Oh, that'll work in his favor. Mm hmm. Ha.

This guy is toast. His only chance for survival is to take her into Morocco or someplace where 12 year olds can marry, and marry her. And stay low for as many years as he can.

[twigs]

This child left her home Saturday morning and she was not suspected missing until 11 pm that night? What parents allow their 12 year old out all day with no parental supervision? That said, however, I hope they find this guy with the girl safe and sound, throw him behind bars and lose the key.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

Police say Studebaker, who left the military on July 4, may not know how old Shevaun is.

Right. Like age never came up in the 3,629,082 instant message exchanges. Right. However, she could have lied and said 19, but the dude could have lied about his age as well.

[areafiftyone]

OMG!!

[oldfart]

I remember a lady I knew in Alaska with an 11-year old daughter who passed for 18 or 19 all the time. She was a very pretty young lady and she caused her mother a lot of grey hair.

[b4its2late]

Sheesh. Hope they find her quick. Sounds like she not only duped her parents, but she's been duped herself.

[isthisnickcool]

Somebody ought to develop some software that better monitors what underage kids do on the internet using chat.

[CaptainK]

The marine was was foolish to leave France. The frogs are big fans of Mary Beth Letourneau and Roman Polanski.

[Caipirabob]

Didn't the Supreme Court just make this legal? /sarcasm /shudder

[camle]

France, eh? where Woody Allen flew to marry his adopted daughter....

[cardinal4]

Shevaun's parents first alerted police that their daughter was missing after she failed to return home by 11pm on Saturday night.

12 years old and allowed out until 11:00pm?? When I was 17 I had to beg to stay out til 1200!

[Sender]

Two of the Belarussian girls we once hosted were absolutely stunning...and both of them only 12. I swear they almost caused traffic accidents everywhere they went as men gaped at them. They would have passed for 19 anywhere. Of course, maturing this early could mean they'll look old at 30.

[Zipporah]

Her parents describe her as very mature for her age, perhaps looking two or three years older than she is. </>

That would make her look 14 or 15.. Oh yeah Clinton wanted every child to have internet access.. guess he was thinking of cruising the net for more victims.

[Lee'sGhost]

Wait a minute. Nobody should jump to conclusions here. Think about it; do we know where Clinton is right now?

[areafiftyone]

Me too. When I was 12 years old I could stay up until 9/10:00 but that was INSIDE and watching TV!!! I had to be in the house by dark!