In a swift turn of events in Putnam County, Florida, a traffic stop led to the discovery of a missing 16-year-old girl from North Carolina late Sunday night, as confirmed by the local sheriff’s office on social media.
The incident unfolded when Deputy Chewning of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office noticed a vehicle traveling south on U.S. 17, near Crescent City, at an unusually high speed. Despite the vehicle eventually slowing down, its speed remained above the legal limit, prompting Chewning to initiate a traffic stop.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Deputy Chewning encountered the driver, 37-year-old Joshua Magraff from Charlotte, and his passenger, who turned out to be the missing teen. The situation grew more complex when the girl provided conflicting information about her identity, including a false birth date that suggested she was only 12 years old.
Magraff claimed that the young passenger was his 16-year-old cousin, which added another layer of confusion to the encounter. As the girl continued to supply inaccurate names and birth dates, Deputy Chewning became increasingly concerned for her safety and well-being.
In light of these findings, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Department of Children and Families. This step was taken to ensure the teen’s safe custody and to facilitate her eventual reunion with her family.
“The passenger gave deputies a 2013 birth date, which would make her only 12 years-old,” PCSO said on Facebook. “The passenger gave two more false names and dates of birth causing Deputy Chewning to be concerned for her welfare.”
After Chewning placed the teen in his patrol car, PCSO said she told the deputy her real name. A subsequent records check found that the teen had been reported missing a month earlier from North Carolina.
Deputies then made contact with the teen’s mother, as she stated she knew Magraff and reported her daughter missing on Feb. 16, PCSO said.
When deputies asked Magraff what his connection was to the teen, Magraff reportedly changed his story, saying she was a friend. And when deputies asked him why he was hanging out with a 16-year-old, Magraff stated that he thought she was 19, according to PCSO.
When asked why the two were in Florida, PCSO said Magraff stated he was in the state to gamble.
During a search of Magraff’s vehicle, the sheriff’s office said deputies found 19 counterfeit $100 bills, marijuana, synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Magraff was then arrested and charged with interference in child custody, synthetic marijuana possession, possession of counterfeit currency, contributing to delinquency of a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to PCSO. He was taken to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on $9,000 bond.
As for the teen, PCSO said deputies contacted the Department of Children and Families to take custody of her until she can be reunited with her mother.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
