A 16-year-old girl was rescued by police in Kentucky after cleverly signaling for help using a distress signal she learned about on TikTok. This signal, called “Signal for Help,” was created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation and became popular in 2020 as a way for individuals to discreetly communicate that they needed assistance amid rising domestic violence during the pandemic.
The girl, who hails from Asheville, North Carolina, had been reported missing by her parents two days prior. On Thursday, a passerby on Interstate 75 noticed her making the distinctive hand gesture indicative of needing help, which involves tucking the thumb into the palm and folding the fingers over it.
The motorist promptly called 911, reporting a car traveling southbound with an older man driving and the girl signaling for assistance. She continued to follow the vehicle while providing updates to the dispatcher until the police were able to intercept and pull the vehicle over. Upon stopping the car, officers discovered that the girl had been reported missing.
According to police reports, the girl informed officers that she and the man had traveled through several states, including North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio, where the man’s relatives lived. After his family learned of her underage status, they reportedly returned to Kentucky, which is when she attempted to alert other drivers for help.
Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office noted, “We don’t know how long she had been signaling to other drivers, but thankfully someone recognized her distress.”
Further investigation revealed that the suspect, a 61-year-old man named Thomas Walker, was in possession of inappropriate material involving a minor, for which he was arrested and charged with unlawful imprisonment and other offenses.
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- How to use TikTok distress signals
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In summary, a 16-year-old girl from North Carolina was successfully rescued after using a TikTok distress signal to alert a motorist that she needed help. The swift actions of the bystander and law enforcement led to the arrest of the suspect involved in her disappearance. This incident highlights the importance of awareness and communication in potentially dangerous situations.
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