31-year-old Thomas Ebersole
LIMA, OH (WLIO) - New information today(1/5/24) on the disappearance of the missing 16-year-old American Township girl who was found Wednesday. Chief Angel Cortes of the Lima Police Department confirmed that Makayla Buckner was found in Florida at the home of a 31-year-old man. Our Bethany Ulrick has more on the investigation.
The investigation into Makayla Buckner's disappearance was a joint effort between detectives at the Lima Police Department, the FBI, and law enforcement from the Marion County Sheriff's Office in Florida. Buckner allegedly met Thomas Ebersole through World of Warcraft and then communicated through the social app "Discord", according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office. Ebersole, who is from Dunnellon, Florida, which is 90 miles north of Tampa, drove 14 hours to pick up Buckner and took her back to Florida. Buckner was last seen at her home on the night of December 28th.
16-year-old Makayla Buckner was found in good health and unharmed.
The FBI noticed that Buckner's World of Warcraft account was accessed from Ebersole's home. When law enforcement arrived, he denied knowing the teen, but later admitted to picking her up because they were in a romantic relationship. He told law enforcement that he planned on marrying her.
Ebersole is currently in jail facing the charges of traveling to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity, interfering with child custody, and sheltering an unmarried minor. According to law enforcement, Buckner was found in good health and unharmed. She is expected to be reunited with her family in Lima today.
January 5, 2024 Press Release from the Lima Police Department: On Thursday, December 28, 2023, Officers from the Lima Police Department were dispatched to an address on Mandolin Dr., Lima, Ohio 45801 in reference to a runaway report. After the initial report was written, it was soon realized that there were more layers to this story.
LPD Investigators, Detectives, Agents from BCI and the FBI worked tirelessly to track down leads by conducting interviews, perform house checks, review surveillance videos, check cell phone and online records all in an attempt to locate the juvenile. LPD Investigative personnel along with the FBI were able to gain information the missing female could possibly be with an online male acquaintance from Marion County, Florida. Through multijurisdictional cooperation, Florida law enforcement officials were able to track down 31 year old Thomas Ebersole at his residence in Marion County. The missing Lima juvenile was located inside Thomas’ residence. The female was found to be in good health and unharmed. She was taken into custody by local law enforcement for her safety until arrangements could be made for her transport back to Lima.
Law enforcement officials discovered Thomas and the juvenile female struck up a relationship while playing World of Warcraft, then the communication moved to the Discord App. Thomas made the 14 hour trip to Lima to pick up the juvenile, then made the 14 hour trip back to Marion County with the juvenile. Thomas is facing multiple felony charges in the state of Florida and the juvenile is expected to be back in Lima reunited with her family sometime today.
The Lima Police Department is grateful for all law enforcement agencies and all law enforcement officers who assisted in the safe return of this juvenile female.
