Warsaw Man Arrested on Kidnapping, Child Solicitation Charges

WARSAW – A Warsaw man has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping and traveling out of state with a minor, with plans to engage in sexual intercourse.

Austin Tylor Birtel, 27, 705 Ross Ave., Warsaw, is charged with child solicitation, a level 4 felony; and kidnapping, a level 5 felony.

According to court documents, Kosciusko County dispatch was alerted Sunday, Sept. 13, to a minor who had run away from home. Officers spoke with an individual who reported the minor left the residence around 1 a.m. The individual reported the minor had not returned by 3 a.m.

That individual also located an iPad the minor used to communicate with Birtel, who used his cellphone number. Officers reviewed messages on the iPad between Birtel and the minor and also located a screenshot of two bus tickets from South Bend to Cleveland, Ohio.

Messages located on the iPad allegedly showed Birtel had explained to the minor she was allowed to travel on the bus with an adult.

Representatives from Greyhound stated Birtel purchased the tickets. Greyhound video indicated only one ticket was scanned and showed an unknown male used Birtel’s ticket to ride the bus.

In tracking Birtel’s phone, officers determined he traveled from a residence in Roann to the minor’s residence in Kosciusko County before stopping at a hotel in South Bend. The phone then traveled to a hotel in Kalamazoo, Mich., where it remained.

The Kalamazoo Police Department and the Michigan State Police assisted Kosciusko County detectives in locating Birtel and the minor inside the hotel. The minor’s hair had been dyed from blonde to black.

Birtel refused to provide a statement to the Kalamazoo Police Department.

A Kosciusko County detective spoke with the minor, who stated she and Birtel planned to have sexual intercourse. She said she did not want to get him in trouble, so they instead “made out” five times on the bed. She indicated they had plans to travel around the United States together.

Law enforcement officers conducted a forensic download of the iPad the minor used to communicate with Birtel.

Birtel has been arrested and is being held on a $70,500 surety and cash bond.

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