safety
Underage Illinois girl rescued after Georgia man drove to have ‘romantic relationship’ with her
By Scott Flynn at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· June 22, 2026
· 1 min read
A Gwinnett County man is behind bars after police said he was going to travel from Georgia to Illinois to meet a girl younger than 14. The girl was reported missing on Saturday shortly after 4:30 a.m. from her home in unincorporated Gurnee, Illinois.Detectives said the girl’s phone was not workin...
Key takeaway The girl was reported missing on Saturday shortly after 4:30 a.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The arrest of Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez, a 24-year-old Norcross resident, for attempting to meet a minor from Illinois for a "romantic relationship" raises concerns about the safety of children in the Atlanta area. As this case demonstrates, online interactions can quickly escalate into real-life dangers, and parents in metro Atlanta should be vigilant about their children's online activities. The fact that Perez was able to make plans to travel to Illinois to meet the girl highlights the need for law enforcement agencies to collaborate across state lines to prevent such crimes. In Gwinnett County, where Perez resides, authorities should consider increasing awareness about online safety and the risks of child exploitation. The community should also be aware of the resources available to report suspicious activities and support victims of child exploitation, ensuring that children in the Atlanta area are protected from predators like Perez.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Gwinnett County man is behind bars after police said he was going to travel from Georgia to Illinois to meet a girl younger than 14. The girl was reported missing on Saturday shortly after 4:30 a.m. from her home in unincorporated Gurnee, Illinois.Detectives said the girl’s phone was not workin...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Scott Flynn at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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