A Minerva man faces charges of rape and kidnapping after being accused of keeping a 14-year-old Missouri girl in his home against her will for almost a week.
Police reported they found the girl on Thursday at Eric Shotwell’s home in the 100 block of West First Street. She had been missing from her home in West Plains since about March 11.
Shotwell, 41, faces charges of rape, kidnapping and assault. He’s being held at the Stark County Jail pending court proceedings.
The girl met Shotwell on a phone app called SayHi, which bills itself as a dating tool. Users can chat with others and share photos, voice messages and videos. He and the girl talked with each on the app for a few months before Shotwell drove to West Plains and picked her up, police said.
Police reported Shotwell and the girl arrived in Minvera on March 13. He assaulted her and wouldn’t let her leave the home, police said.
Police were able to track the girl down after she briefly contacted her mother via phone on Thursday afternoon. She didn’t know where she was, but police traced her location to Shotwell’s address.
The girl was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital for treatment and awaits arrangement for her return home, police said.
Shotwell is scheduled for a court hearing on March 23.
According to the Canton Repository, Shotwell had a roommate who police do not “at this point” believe was involved in the girl’s capture. The roommate told the newspaper he never learned the teen’s name and was not told why she was there. He and Shotwell had opposite work shifts, so they rarely saw each other.
Shotwell may face additional charges in Missouri.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ.