Missing NC teen found concealed under Kentucky man's home through trap door hidden by rug: Police

A missing North Carolina teenager has been located after authorities say they found her concealed behind a trap door hidden under a rug inside a Kentucky man's home.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY, the 16-year-old girl disappeared in early December and was found by Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputies on Christmas when they responded to a home in Kings Mountain, Kentucky, an unincorporated community about 60 miles southwest of Lexington.

In the report, a deputy wrote that investigators responded to the home just before 5:15 p.m. after the mother of 34-year-old Zackary Keith Jones called deputies to report a domestic dispute between her son and his "girlfriend."

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Hidden under trap door under a bedroom rug

When Jones answered the door, he said the female was not there, and when he let deputies in to the home, they reported they saw drug paraphernalia in plain sight. At some point, the complaint continues, Jones grabbed the paraphernalia and attempted to toss it into a wood stove.

Deputies intervened, restrained Jones, and placed him into a cruiser and, upon searching the home, found the girl hidden behind a "trap door that was hid under a rug in the bedroom."

The teen told deputies Jones picked her up in North Carolina where she lived with her grandmother, and brought her back to Kentucky, the report continues and that she appeared to be “very high” at the time.

The girl, according to the report, told deputies she met Jones online and he told her he was 19, but when he showed up at her home in North Carolina "he looked older" and told her he was 25.

The affidavit goes onto say, after he drove the girl to his home, she found out from his family he was 34 years old, and that he told her to tell everyone she was 18. She also told investigators he threatened to shoot and kill her on multiple occasions, the report continues.

Jones admitted to doing drugs with the teen and having sex with her on multiple occasions, investigators wrote in the complaint. Deputies said they also saw visible marks around the teen's throat.

At one point, Jones reportedly told deputies, the girl "begged him to kill her."

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Jones remained jailed, set for court this week

Deputies arrested Jones on multiple charges including rape, felony assault, felony strangulation, sodomy, unlawful transaction with a minor, unlawful imprisonment and various drug charges.

According to investigators, additional charges are pending in the case in Kentucky.

It was not immediately known whether the teen had been returned to family in North Carolina.

The Lincoln County Sheriff refused to comment on the case.

A Lincoln County court clerk told USA TODAY Jones had not obtained an attorney as of Tuesday.

But in an interview from jail, he told WKYT-TV he was trying to help the girl because her grandmother kicked her out and she was there "on her own free will."

But the girl's grandfather told the outlet the girl ran away. USA TODAY is not naming the grandfather in an effort to protect the victim's identity.

Jones remained jailed Tuesday and was slated to appear before a judge on the case Thursday, the clerk said.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund