A Louisiana man has been arrested after allegedly crossing state lines to transport a teen from Tennessee to his home for sexual relations, according to police.
Alexander Materne, 28, of St. Rose was charged with one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile and one count of Aggravated Kidnapping of a Child in Tangipahoa Parish after allegedly traveling to pick up a 14-year-old.
On Monday, Dec. 30, Sgt. Jenni Barrette with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office told us there was no “further information” for “an active investigation.”
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office on Christmas Day regarding “an active investigation” involving Materne and the missing girl, per a press release shared on Dec. 26.
According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, the teen “met Materne while playing an online game,” and the two made arrangements so he could pick her up and stay with him.
“On December 23, 2024, Materne picked up the female from her residence in TN and brought her to his residence in St. Rose, LA, where they allegedly engaged in sexual acts. The female then allegedly disclosed her age to Materne,” the press release said.
The tent Alexander Materne allegedly bought 14-year-old female from Tennessee, before dropping her off in a wooded area in Tangipahoa Parish.
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office
Eventually, the two left Materne’s home and he brought the teen to “a wooded area in Tangipahoa Parish” where he left her in a tent with food and water. “Materne then went to Jennings, LA, to celebrate Christmas with his family,” the sheriff’s office said.
It was the teen’s family who were able to track her to Materne.
“They were the key to all of this,” Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker said of the 14-year-old’s mother and father, the Associated Pressreported Dec. 28. “I’m telling you if they want a job, I’ll hire both of these parents as investigators.”
After he was found “at a family member’s residence in Jennings,” the 28-year-old “agreed to show detectives where he dropped off the female in Tangipahoa Parish.”
Though the teen’s name and exact residential location was not disclosed, Sticker said she lived about 160 miles west of Materne’s home in St. Rose.
“You can’t make this stuff up. It’s a Christmas miracle that she was found safe. This thing could’ve ended badly,” Sticker added.
Per the press release, the girl was said to be in good health when authorities found her, and she was transported to a hospital to be evaluated.
Materne is also facing Human Trafficking (felony) and Carnal Knowledge (felony) charges from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“Once he is able to be transported, Materne will be booked into the St. Charles Parish Nelson Coleman Correctional Center,” the press release said.
