Schoolgirl and US Marine in France

Schoolgirl and US Marine in France
19.24PM BST, 14 Jul 2003
Missing schoolgirl Shevaun Pennington, 12, has flown to France with a 31-year-old former US Marine she met on the internet, police have said.

The girl joined Toby Studabaker at Englands, Manchester airport before catching a flight with him to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France having gone missing early on Saturday morning.

A further search revealed she had taken her clothes and passport. Officers contacted Interpol and an all-ports warning was issued.

Superintendent Peter Mason said: "We can confirm that Toby Studabaker left his home town of Detroit and arrived at Manchester airport via Schiphol airport in Amsterdam.

"He then met Shevaun Pennington and flew from Manchester to London Heathrow and on to Charles de Gaulle. We are now making inquiries with out colleagues in France."

Superintendent Mason said all the flights had been pre-booked by Studabaker.

"I am obviously concerned for the welfare of Shevaun Pennington," said the officer. "She is a 12-year-old girl with an adult of 31. The longer it goes on the more my concerns grow."