Wyoming troopers rescue missing Wisconsin teen from men who said they were paid to take her to Utah

The original story by Abigail Jones for ABC4.

Wyoming Highway Patrol says a missing teenage girl from Wisconsin is safely back in good hands after troopers pulled over a car on I-80 and arrested two men accused of kidnapping her.

On Saturday, Nov. 29, troopers got a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) alert for a minor from Wisconsin believed to be traveling with a 20-year-old man wanted on drug charges out of Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Using cell phone pings, troopers tracked the suspect vehicle heading west on Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins. A WHP trooper stopped the car near Sinclair, where they found the missing girl inside with two men.

According to Highway Patrol, the men claimed they’d been hired to transport the girl to Utah.

Both suspects were arrested and are now facing charges of:

• Kidnapping;
• Interference with parental custody.

WHP says the girl is safe and will be returning home to her parents.

Captain Mike Simmons of WHP District 1 praised the coordinated effort between troopers and dispatchers:

“I am proud of the work and cooperation between the troopers and our dispatchers who went above and beyond to locate this girl and get her home safe. Two alleged kidnappers are in custody, and a girl is home with her parents thanks to incredible teamwork of all involved.”

The investigation is still active, and no further details have been released.