Missing North Carolina Teen Located in Florida with 37-Year-Old Man

A 16-year-old girl, reported missing from North Carolina last month, was found Sunday night during a traffic stop in Putnam County, Florida. She was in a vehicle with 37-year-old Joshua Magraff, who faces multiple charges following the encounter. Magraff was stopped for speeding near Crescent City when deputies questioned him about his young passenger.

Magraff initially claimed the girl was his 16-year-old cousin, then a friend, before stating he believed she was 19. The teen herself provided deputies with several false names and birth dates, including one that indicated she was 12 years old, raising immediate welfare concerns. After being separated from Magraff, she disclosed her true identity, confirming she was a reported missing person. Authorities also discovered $1,900 in counterfeit bills, synthetic marijuana, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in Magraff's vehicle.

Magraff faces charges including interference in child custody, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of counterfeit money, delinquency of a minor, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a $9,000 bond in Putnam County. The Florida Department of Children and Families has taken custody of the teen to facilitate her reunification with her mother.