Missing Maryland Girl Found In Aberdeen

February 17, 2005
 
By Bryan Johnson


ROCKVILLE, MD. - A 43-year-old Aberdeen man, John William Diehl is in jail, accused of unlawful imprisonment for allegedly transporting a 15-year-old girl from her home outside Washington, D.C. to his apartment in a housing authority project called Aberdeen Manor.

Police say that Diehl told them he first contacted the girl on the Internet about three months ago. He then drove to Washington, D.C. and met her outside her school in Kensington, a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C. The two then drove back to Washington state.

Both say they had sex in several states along the way. Then, Aberdeen Police got a call from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Wednesday night and were told they could find the teen in Room 818 of Aberdeen Manor.

When officers arrived, they found the girl in bed naked. Detective Captain Dave Johnson told KOMO 4 News that the girl said she loved Diehl, and Diehl said he loved her. And both said they hope she was pregnant, and they intended to get married.

Neighbors said they had no idea that the teen was on living on their floor of the building. One neighbor, Lee Hermanson, explained: "Around here, we keep pretty much to ourselves. Everyone around here values his privacy."

LuAnne Hanson, who described herself as the key holder for the floor, said she had met Diehl several times and he seemed like a friendly fellow, who never caused her any trouble and even showed up for Bingo occasionally.

Another neighbor, Lynne Horner, said: "He seemed nice," but added, "You just don't know what goes on behind closed doors; you just don't know." Several neighbors upon learning what police were doing at the building, expressed concern that the now 16-year-old may not have been the first one to have been contacted by Diehl. And police told KOMO 4 News that during a search of Diehl's apartment, they found two pictures of the alleged victim, and several pictures of other children that appear to have been printed from the Internet. They say they are investigating to see whether there are other victims.

Right now, Diehl is accused only of the crime false imprisonment, but police expect to amend that to rape of a child. They add police in Washington, D.C, and the FBI are also investigating.

The girl, who just turned 16 Thursday, was taken to a home in Olympia. The state it plans to reunite her with her family soon.

Copyright: KOMO TV