A man has been arrested in Providence, Rhode Island, for holding three missing Massachusetts girls against their will and selling them for sex, police say.
One of the missing girls who was being held in a third-floor apartment at 95 Cumerford St. managed to escape the home and reach out for help, police said.
When police arrived, they were met by the girl and the father of one of the girls inside the home. He told police his daughter was being held captive against her will.
Police entered the apartment and arrested Derek Miranda, 21, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. He is charged with three counts of kidnapping and sex trafficking.
Two of the girls, ages 14 and 15, were returned to their parents, and the third girl, a 14-year-old, is in the custody of Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
The girls were missing for about two days, according to police. They're all believed to be from the Lowell area. Miranda transported them from Massachusetts to Providence.
A 21-year-old woman was also inside the home when police arrived at the scene. Her role is unknown at this time. She's not currently in custody, as the investigation is ongoing.
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Miranda will be in court for arraignment on Monday.
Stay with necn.com for more on this developing story.
