Missing Girl Found in Greece

Feb. 2 -- A Polk County, Fla., woman is headed to Greece to pick up her 15-year-old daughter, who police believe was lured there through the Internet by an older man.

Lindsay Erin Shamrock, of Mulberry, Fla., was found Thursday in good physical and mental condition at the apartment of the suspect in Thessaloniki, in northern Greece. She has been considered a runaway in the United States since Aug. 28.

Greek police arrested 35-year-old Konstantin Baehring 340 miles away in Athens, 24 hours after Shamrock was found.

Authorities believe that the two met online several months ago and Baehring arranged a passport for Shamrock, and they headed to Greece.

"They were just like boyfriend [and] girlfriend," said Sgt. Gary Klinger of the Polk County Sheriff's office at a recent press conference. "She thought they were in love, and he tried to convince her of that.

"I was privately pessimistic that we'd ever see Lindsay again," he said.

Accused Has Previous Criminal Record

Baehring, who is originally from Germany, has a previous criminal record, and had reportedly served time in prison for fraud in Greece.

After his term was up, he took up permanent residence in Greece.

In addition, two adults have been arrested in the United States on charges of helping the girl travel to Greece.

A 24-year-old woman from Florida is accused of bringing the girl an airline ticket to Ohio and driving her to Tampa for her flight. Her name was not immediately released.

Robert Ardner, 41, of Dennison, Ohio, pleaded innocent to rape and other charges against other minors. Shamrock stayed with Ardner for about two weeks, and he helped her obtain a passport to fly to Greece, according to The Associated Press.

A Warning About the Net

In Bartow, Fla., Lindsay's mother Stephanie Lavoie,tearfully warned parents about the Internet, imploring them torealize it can be used in an "evil manner."

"Every parent whose child is using the Internet, whether monitored or not needs to be concerned," Lavoie said. "Parents everywhere need to understand that people like [the accused] are using the Internet to victimize children like Lindsay every day."