KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Editor's Note: This story contains details that might be disturbing to some people. Discretion is advised.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office said a man is in custody after he was accused of helping a 12-year-old girl run away from home and bringing her to a house where another inmate admitted to having sex with her in the past.
Demetrius Bussell, 30, is facing eight charges related to the case, including aiding a runaway child in escaping legal custody. In the police report, the girl told deputies that Bussell bought a rideshare for the girl the night she disappeared.
According to a police report, authorities said they began investigating the disappearance of the girl on Aug. 27 and found a letter in her bedroom that she had addressed to the inmate. WBIR 10News is not naming the inmate at this time because he has not been formally charged in the case yet.
Authorities also said the girl and the inmate had visited each other via video. During the visits and in the letter, authorities said they discussed being together after he was released.
They also discussed prior sexual relations, according to the report. Authorities said they interviewed the 23-year-old inmate. He admitted to trying to get the 12-year-old girl pregnant on "multiple occasions."
The age of consent in Tennessee is 18, meaning it's illegal to have sex with someone under that age. Under the law, a 12-year-old can't give consent.
The inmate, who has a lengthy arrest record, said he would have sex with her in a car and then go to a home on Coster Road. Authorities set up surveillance at the home while searching for her. While watching the home detectives said they saw a vehicle leave with expired registration and having violated light laws.
They pulled over the car and found Demetrius Bussell inside, according to the report. Bussell told detectives that the girl was inside, and they went to the home. After knocking on the door, authorities said the girl appeared in the hallway and could be seen inside through a window in the door.
"A loud thud was heard from a different area inside the residence and detectives conducted a dynamic entry into the residence for the victim's safety and due to the exigent nature," the police report said.
The 12-year-old was taken out of the home, according to authorities, and the report said detectives swept through the house. They said they found another person who was with the victim inside. They also said they found marijuana, drug packaging materials, scales, guns and property from the girl's home.
The other person was detained. Detectives said they left the home and asked for a search warrant. One was issued and then combed through it more thoroughly, according to the report. It said they found around 20 grams of marijuana and vacuum sealers in the community areas of the home. The guns were found in the bedrooms of Bussell and the other person.
While interviewing the girl, the sheriff's office said Bessell had been giving her marijuana and cigar tubes, and having her roll blunts. She said she learned to roll blunts online. She also said Bussell arranged for a rideshare to pick her up the night of her disappearance.
He faces several charges including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, maintaining a dwelling for drug use, helping a child run away, child abuse, concealing a runaway child as well as drug charges.
Information about the other person in the home or the inmate was not immediately available. Neither was facing charges related to the 12-year-old running away as of Aug. 30.