KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE (Aug. 30): The Knox County Sheriff's Office said a man accused of helping a 12-year-old girl run away from home was facing charges after authorities said he was found leaving the home where an inmate would take the girl to have sex with her.
The sheriff's office said a letter was found in the girl's bedroom addressed to an inmate, Dewyone Wells. Authorities said in the letter and previous video visitation, the girl and the inmate discussed prior sexual relations. Authorities said Wells admitted to having sex with her during an interview, and said he would take her to a home on Coster Road.
Authorities then started watching the home and saw a car leave it with expired registration and having violated light laws. Demetrius Bussell was pulled over, who told authorities that she was in the home.
Bussell is facing charges such as helping a child run away and child abuse. Inside the home, police also said they found drugs and guns, as well as the girl. She was removed from the home, and found another person inside the home. That person was detained.
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UPDATE (9 p.m.): The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a 12-year-old was found safe after the bureau issued an endangered child alert was sent out.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office said she was taken to a hospital for a check-up and charges would be "forthcoming later."
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued an Endangered Child Alert for a missing 12-year-old Knox County girl.
She was last seen getting into a white Lexus in the area of Crippen Corner Lane on Tuesday, Aug. 27, according to the TBI.
She was wearing gray Mickey Mouse sweatpants, a white t-shirt, a brown fuzzy jacket and black Nike shoes. She has brown hair and brown eyes, is 5'1", 120 pounds, has nose piercings, a belly-button piercing and a black and white rose tattoo on her left arm, the Knox County Sheriff's Office said.
She has had no prior runaway history, according to KCSO.
If you have any information, contact KCSO at 865-215-2243 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.