An abducted 16-year-old girl was rescued after she used a viral TikTok distress hand signal to catch the attention of a driver, ABC 7 reports.
An unnamed teenager from Asheville, North Carolina, was reported missing by her family last week, according to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky. But when she used a hand gesture representing violence at home, she was soon brought back to safety.
Last Thursday, a driver in Kentucky called 911 to report that they'd seen a young girl in distress in a car on the interstate.
A statement shared by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office last Friday reads: "The complainant was behind the vehicle and noticed a female passenger in the vehicle making hand gestures that are known on the social media platform 'Tik Tok' to represent violence at home -- I need help -- domestic violence."
The hand signal entails holding your hand up with your palm facing outwards, then tucking your thumb into your hand before closing your fingers to trap your thumb.
According to CNN affiliate WYMT, authorities have confirmed that the youngster had come across the hand gesture on TikTok. The individual who called the emergency services made sure to keep behind the car for seven miles and shared information with the police, according to WYMT.
Fortunately, law enforcement was able to pull the car over and rescue the girl.
The suspect, 61-year-old James Brick, had reportedly taken the teenager from North Carolina to Ohio where he has family, police revealed. They left Ohio once his family discovered that the girl was underage and reported missing, police stated.
"We don't know how long coming down the interstate from Ohio that she had been doing this to other motorists hoping that they would notice that she was in distress, but finally someone did recognize," Laurel County Sheriff's Deputy Gilbert Acciardo told WYMT.
Police arrested the suspect on Thursday and he was charged with unlawful imprisonment and possession of a matter of sex performance by a minor (over 12 but under 18).
As reported by The Independent, police allegedly discovered in Brick's possession, a phone that "allegedly portrayed a juvenile female in a sexual manner."
