Authorities in Pennsylvania have charged a man in the death of a woman he met on a dating app.
According to police, 26 year old Erica of Columbia County had been communicating with 42 year old Harold on the MeetMe app. Her sister reported her missing on December 6 after she did not show up for work.
Investigators say Erica’s phone records showed contact with Harold, and that the two phones were together at her apartment on the night of December 4. Police say the phones then traveled together along Interstate 80 before Erica’s phone dropped off the cell network near Milton, Pennsylvania.
Authorities say FBI agents questioned Harold on December 23 and had placed a GPS tracker on his van beforehand. After he missed a follow up interview, officials tracked the vehicle through Michigan and Ohio to Duncannon, Pennsylvania, where police located him on Christmas Day. He was taken to a hospital before being taken into custody.
According to the criminal complaint as reported by local outlets, Harold later spoke with investigators and led them to Erica’s remains, which were recovered on Sunday. Police did not describe a motive.
Harold has been charged with kidnapping, criminal homicide, and abuse of a corpse. Those charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless convicted in court. A response from his attorney had not been reported at the time of publication.
Police are urging anyone who uses dating apps to be careful when meeting someone in person for the first time, including telling a friend or family member where they are going.
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