A Kentucky man arrested after a missing 16-year-old from North Carolina was found in a trapdoor at his home is speaking out from jail, claiming he actually did the girl a favor and “she left of her own free will.” hidden”.
Zackary Jones, 34, faces more than 30 different charges, including rape, after he was arrested by Lincoln County officers responding to a report of domestic violence at his home on Christmas Day.
He initially told officers the victim was not at his home on Robertstown Road in Kings Mountain, but after they arrested him on drug charges, they found the missing teen in a trap door hidden under a rug.
At the Pulaski County Jail, Jones claimed he met the girl online, where she told him she was 18 and insisted he would help her, WKYT reported.
“She went into hiding of her own free will. “She was actually in bed when the police first got there,” Jones said.
Zackary Jones, 34, accused of raping a missing 16-year-old girl, speaks out from prison, claiming she was there of her own free will and that he helped her
Lincoln County officers found the missing teen in a trap door while responding to a report of domestic violence at his home on Christmas Day
“Her grandma threw her out.” She didn’t seem that old (16). She had all kinds of piercings.'
The teen's grandfather, Eugene Baughman, said she ran away from her grandmother and then met up with Jones.
Baughman said, “She started taking away all her privileges, her phone, etc..” That's when she got angry and left. She didn't want to return home.'
“I don’t think he saved anyone. I think he was trying to find another person to victimize.'
Jones brought the 16-year-old home and told his family she was 18. It was his mother, Ronda Jones, who ultimately called the police when she believed there was a domestic dispute.
“They were arguing, shouting and shouting. “It's probably the hardest thing I've had to do,” Jones' mother told WRAL.
After initially denying that the girl was in the house, officers were soon led through the house by Jones, according to a police statement.
Officers clearly noticed drugs, which Jones then tried to get rid of in a wood stove in his bedroom.
Authorities then took Jones into custody and left him in the back seat of a police vehicle.
They then returned to try to find the missing girl when they noticed a trap door hidden under a bedroom carpet.
Zackary Jones claimed he met the girl online and she claimed she was 18 years old and her grandmother kicked her out
The girl — a missing 16-year-old from Fayetteville, North Carolina who has yet to be identified — has been found.
Officers said the victim was “very high” when Jones was arrested.
The 34-year-old man admitted taking drugs and engaging in “sexual activity” with the girl. The age of consent in Kentucky is 16.
However, the girl then explained that Jones had taken her from North Carolina and brought her to his home.
She told police he had contacted her about two to three weeks earlier and claimed he was 19 years old.
When he arrived at her home, she said he looked older and he admitted he had lied. However, he then lied again and said he was 25 years old.
The victim only learned Jones' actual age when she arrived at his home and met his family.
Jones' mother said, “I asked him how old she was.” He said, “She's 19.” So I took that as the truth. I believed him because a lot of the girls looked older than their years.'
“To me, she came along willingly.” I just feel like they probably talked. I don't know how long he's been writing to her. According to police statements, she was unhappy where she was and felt cared for and came with him.”
The victim told officers that after she found out his real age, he threatened her and made her promise to tell anyone who asked that she was 18 years old.
Jones answered the door of his home on Robertstown Road in Kings Mountain and told authorities the victim was not there. They soon found her in a trap door in his bedroom under a rug
The teen then claimed Jones was armed with a gun and threatened to kill her multiple times.
'I was shocked. “I always get mad when he lies to me,” Rhonda Jones said
“No matter what he did, he is my son and I love him. 'I'm sorry he did it and that's all I can say.'
The teen said they were stopped by an officer in Lincoln County the night he trafficked them and said he would shoot the officer if he tried to get either of them out of the vehicle.
Jones faces about a dozen charges, including rape, sodomy, strangulation, terroristic threats and resisting arrest.