PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WHDH) — Stephen Ardrey, 30, who allegedly came to Massachusetts to lure Medfield teen, Brittany Thompson, out of the state with him is behind bars and had his first appearance before a federal magistrate on Friday. The Springfield, Missouri man is being held without bail.
Sources have confirmed that Audrey is the heavy set man pictured in a surveillance video leading 17-year-old Brittany Thompson out of the Medfield public library Monday afternoon.
Now after allegedly taking Thompson across state lines to a Super 8 Motel in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, Ardrey is facing serious federal charges.
“One is sex trafficking with children and another is traveling with a minor for the purposes of sex,” said Adi Goldstein, assistant U.S. attorney.
Ardrey’s court appointed lawyer had no comment. Details contained in an affidavit written by a federal agent working for the Department of Homeland Security have been sealed by the court.
“I that think in a matter of days Brittany would have been in a place where we never would have got her back. It’s terrifying. It’s terrifying and again but I am also fortunate. I feel very fortunate,” said Brittany’s father, Michael Thompson.
The Thompsons received support from the group My life, My choice. One woman identified herself as a victim of the commercial sex industry.
“This kind of thing is happening to our children right here in the United States day after day, after day right here in Massachusetts and so we can’t pretend that this kind of thing doesn’t happen,” said Audrey Morrissey of My life, My choice.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office praised a biker who spotted Brittany Thompson and Ardrey walking along Route 3 in Coventry.
“It’s just a miracle that it happened this way. Of course I’m happy,” said Jim Pugliese who spotted Brittany.