A man from Rutherford County has been taken into custody in connection with the case of a missing girl who was eventually located unharmed in Texas following an extensive search, according to authorities.
On Sunday, March 10, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made an announcement that Iris Crum, a 7-year-old girl who was last seen in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 1, has been found safe in Texas.
An Endangered Child Alert was issued for the seven-year-old on Saturday, March 2, and was later upgraded to an AMBER Alert on Friday, March 8 due to increasing concerns about her well-being.
Investigators have revealed that Iris was reportedly in the company of her non-custodial mother, 30-year-old Khaila Czereda.
The TBI took Khaila into custody on charges of felony child abduction and custodial interference after finding Iris.
Detective Sgt. Joseph Duncan from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) posted a picture of Iris after she was discovered, mentioning that she “had a smile on her face when she was found safe on Sunday in League City, Texas.”
The RCSO conducted an interview with Ethan Czereda, identified as Khaila’s husband, on Saturday, March 9th.
“We relied on our investigative leads to gather information that led us to the location of Iris in a home in Texas,” Duncan explained. He further added, “Thanks to the combined efforts of the Texas Rangers and the local police, they were able to apprehend Khaila and safely bring Iris back to us.”
Ethan, a 33-year-old resident of Fall Parkway near Walter Hill, has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated kidnapping, accessory after the fact, and providing false information to officers, according to investigators.
He is currently detained at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a bond of $75,000. His appearance in General Session Court is scheduled for May 13.
Law enforcement officials expressed their gratitude to everyone who called in tips that played a crucial role in helping detectives locate Iris.
“It took a collaborative effort from TBI, the Sheriff’s Office, Texas officers, and various law enforcement agencies nationwide,” Duncan expressed. “We dedicated countless hours to this operation, but the most important thing is that we were able to bring her to safety.”
No further details were immediately made available.
