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***PRESS RELEASE***

Sheriff John Ingram, along with investigators from the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, is delighted to announce that Rachel Natacha Owens has been located and is safe. Rachel was located at around noon today in Columbus, Ohio. Rachel was reported missing on May 5, 2011after being seen getting off her school bus at South Brunswick High School in Boiling Spring Lakes.

Sheriff Ingram would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to Investigator Brett Peachey with the Westerville, OH Police Department, Investigator Brian Marvin with the Reynoldsburg, OH Police Department, Investigator Darren Smith with the Powell, OH Police Department and agents with the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. Each of these individuals are members of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force in Columbus. Sheriff Ingram would also like to especially thank agents with the FBI Charlotte Field Office, Wilmington RA, who were instrumental in helping to locate Rachel.

There is no foul play in Rachel’s disappearance and no charges will be pursued at this time. Investigative efforts revealed that Rachel left and remained away on her own will. Investigators have learned that she went to great lengths to intentionally conceal her whereabouts, even assuming a false identity and date of birth.

Sheriff Ingram and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office are extremely grateful to all of those who submitted tips and leads to detectives that ultimately led to finding Rachel.