Who is Zackary Jones? The Kentucky Man Who Trapped a Teen in a Secret Compartment
Zackary Jones is a 34-year-old man from Lincoln County, Kentucky, who was arrested on Christmas Day, 2023, after a missing North Carolina teen was found inside a hidden trap door at his house. Jones is facing multiple charges, including rape, sodomy, assault, strangulation, unlawful imprisonment, terroristic threatening, unlawful transaction with a minor, and various drug-related counts. He could face more charges as the investigation continues, including in North Carolina.
How did Zackary Jones lure the teen away from her home?
According to the arrest citation obtained by local outlets, Jones met the 16-year-old girl online and pretended to be a 19-year-old boy. He convinced her to leave her home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she was reported missing on December 6, 2023. He then drove her to his house in Kentucky, where he revealed his true age and threatened her to stay with him. He also forced her to tell his family that she was 18 years old.
How did the police find the teen in the trap door?
The police were called to Zackary Jones’ house on December 25, 2023, by his mother, who reported a domestic violence incident between her son and his “girlfriend”. When the deputies arrived, they found Jones in his bedroom, where they also spotted drug paraphernalia. They arrested him and placed him in a patrol car. They then searched the house for the “girlfriend”, who was nowhere to be found. However, they noticed a rug in one of the bedrooms that seemed out of place. They lifted the rug and discovered a trap door that led to a hidden compartment. Inside, they found the missing teen, who appeared “very high” and had bruises on her neck.
34-year-old Zackary Jones is facing more than a dozen charges, including rape, sodomy, strangulation, terroristic threatening, and resisting arrest. https://t.co/SWMd7wqbYa
— LEX 18 News (@LEX18News) December 28, 2023
What did the teen tell the police about her ordeal?
The teen told the police that Jones had sexually assaulted her multiple times and that they had used crack cocaine together. She said that Jones had choked her, hit her, and threatened to kill her if she tried to escape. She also said that Jones had told her that he would shoot a police officer if they were stopped for a traffic violation while driving from North Carolina to Kentucky.
What is the current status of Jones and the teen?
Zackary Jones is currently being held at the Lincoln County Regional Jail on a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 3, 2024. The teen was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. She was then reunited with her family, who had been looking for her for nearly three weeks.
Why is this story important and relevant for the readers?
This story is important and relevant for the readers because it highlights the dangers of online predators who prey on vulnerable teens. It also shows the importance of parental supervision and awareness of the online activities of their children. It also raises questions about the legal and ethical implications of cross-state abduction and exploitation of minors. It also demonstrates the courage and resilience of the teen, who survived a horrific ordeal and was finally rescued by the police.
Zackary Jones is a Kentucky man who was arrested after a missing North Carolina teen was found in a hidden trap door at his house. He is accused of luring the teen away from her home, raping her, assaulting her, and keeping her captive for nearly three weeks. He is facing multiple charges and could face more as the investigation continues. The teen was rescued by the police and reunited with her family. This story is a shocking and disturbing example of how online predators can target and harm innocent teens. It also serves as a warning and a reminder for parents and teens to be careful and vigilant about their online interactions and safety.
