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Young teen stole car, drove 900 miles meet online ‘boy’ in person

Posted at 5:52 PM, Sep 09, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-09 17:52:14-04

CYPRESS, Tx.-- A 13-year-old girl was found by police, after stealing her brother’s car and her mother’s ATM bank card to go see a boy she had met online.

Her mother, Tressa Robinson, met her with open arms, glad her daughter was home safe.

"Oh… I'm just so happy that she's home and we've always… we've always had a close relationship…,” said Robinson.

Though, not quite close enough for mom to know about the character Dylan, whom Beth had met online playing “Call of Duty,” on the Xbox. The mother said that police are now looking into whether or not this boy Dylan on the other end of the line is really the 12-year-old boy he claimed to be.

Beth was noticed missing Thursday morning, when her mom went to wake her up for school. Her parents contacted the police after discovering text messages and voicemails to this character Dylan, who lived more than 900 miles away.

That quick thinking eventually helped to locate Beth, who was stopped on the highway in Nashville by a state trooper. She was gone for three days.

Beth’s father drove, without sleeping, to pick her up.

"Hug your child every day. hug your kid every day,” he said, thankful for what they consider a good outcome.” Tell them you love them.”

 “Talk to them... ask them if there's anything you can do.” “I have to start doing that more, Robinson added.

Seeing so much support from friends and neighbors made Beth apologize and reach out to her parents like never before.

“"I broke into tears,” said young Beth. “They say it's home sweet home and it's true."

Exactly where the family goes from here is not clear. They've discussed counseling and Beth’s mom said there will definitely be some kind of punishment.