Cabarrus County deputies rescue 15-year-old girl who they say was held by human traffickers

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Cabarrus County deputies rescued a 15-year-old girl who they said was being forced to have sex with men for money.

Over the past few months, Channel 9′s Allison Latos has covered several disturbing arrests of accused child predators, but this case is exactly what detectives always fear. Investigators do proactive online surveillance because they worry there’s a real child in danger, and it’s because of that work that a 15-year-old girl is alive and safe.

“To think about a 15-year-old over several days being forced to meet with strangers, adult men, not knowing what she was walking into, is terrifying,” said Lt. April Samples with the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office.

Samples said the girl is alive and safe thanks to diligent deputies scanning online escort ads for underage victims.

“They definitely saved her life,” she said.

The rescue happened Jan. 25 at a hotel near Concord Mills. Detectives said they can’t share the exact location or many specific details, but said they pretended to be “customers.”

Deputies said the three adults, who had no relation to the teen, brought her to the hotel.

“They told her they would offer her a place to stay, then in a short period of time, she needed to do this for them to hear her keep,” Samples said. “These are bad people.”

Walter Ardrey, 40, of Charlotte, has a dangerous criminal past. He was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, possession of a firearm by a felon and selling cocaine.

Keith Henderson, 32, of Charlotte, was on post-release supervision for violent crimes in Tennessee.

Deputies said Erica Cheeks, 34, fled back to Charlotte, but with the help from Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, she’s now in jail.

“We do believe there have been other minor females who have been victims of these people,” Samples said.

The investigation is just the beginning, and so is the long journey to justice and healing for the teen. She’s now receiving help from agencies like Present Age Ministries.

“Case managers, to counselors, tutors, social support,” said Hannah Arrowood with Present Age Ministries. “They’re children. We want to help them dream again and experience things they haven’t, so they can see a life beyond what’s happened to them.”

Arrowood said there are 30 human trafficking juvenile survivors currently receiving services from her non-profit.

“This is going on every day, in probably every hotel, everywhere,” Samples said.

A lot of these arrests happen because deputies are looking online, but they can’t see every ad. If you have any information that could help them save another child, you can send in tips here or by calling 704-93CRIME, and even remain anonymous.

(WATCH BELOW: ONLY ON 9: Cabarrus County investigators take down online sexual predators)

ONLY ON 9: Cabarrus County investigators take down online sexual predators

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