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Written by: E. George
Published August 15, 2024 @ 12:15 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding alleged sexual violence against children.
Update: An Ohio grand jury has indicted 34-year-old Antonio Agustin-Ailon on multiple felony charges, including two counts of rape, a single count of gross sexual imposition, two counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, and a single count of interference with custody in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl from Georgia.
Agustin-Ailon, a Guatemalan national residing in Dover, Ohio, was arrested on July 25 after authorities located him with Maria Gomez-Perez, who had been deemed missing for nearly two months. The case began when the young girl, who had met Agustin-Ailon online via Facebook, decided to leave her home. According to investigators, Agustin-Ailon traveled from Ohio to Georgia specifically to pick her up and take her back to Ohio with him.
After months of searching, Gomez-Perez contacted her father online, asking him to stop looking for her. Despite her plea, her father notified authorities, which led to Agustin-Ailon’s arrest. The investigation revealed that the girl had been in Agustin-Ailon’s custody for a significant period, prompting concerns over her safety and well-being.
Tuscarawas County court officials confirmed the charges against Agustin-Ailon and scheduled his arraignment for Friday at noon. He is currently detained at the Tuscarawas County Jail.
In response to the indictment, Lee Darragh, the district attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia, has indicated that Agustin-Ailon will face additional charges in Georgia. However, due to the severity of the charges in Ohio and the presence of key witnesses there, Darragh has decided to delay extradition. This decision allows Ohio to proceed with its case before Agustin-Ailon is moved to Georgia.
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch has expressed strong support for the DA’s approach, emphasizing the importance of justice and the need to prevent further harm. “My primary goal in this case is to see justice done,” Couch stated. “If that means we have to wait for this suspect to have his day in court in Ohio before he faces our charges, so be it. I just want to make sure he has no chance of luring another young girl from home, wreaking havoc on another community like he did ours.”
As Agustin-Ailon awaits his court appearance, the focus remains on ensuring that all charges are thoroughly addressed and that justice is served for the young victim and her family.
HALL COUNTY, Ga. – In an emotional conclusion to a nearly two-month-long search, 12-year-old Maria Gomez-Perez has been found safe in Dover, Ohio. The young girl’s disappearance from Gainesville, Georgia, on May 29 prompted an extensive search effort that spanned several states and involved multiple law enforcement agencies.
Maria Gomez-Perez was last seen at her home on Westside Drive in Gainesville. Her father reported her missing the day after she was last seen.
The case quickly gained significant attention as the local community, along with law enforcement, rallied to find the young girl. Local businesses and community members offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.
The search was extensive and involved not only the Hall County Sheriff’s Office but also the FBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Homeland Security, and various state law enforcement agencies across South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Illinois, and Maryland. Despite numerous leads and extensive efforts, the search initially yielded no results.
A breakthrough came last week when Gomez-Perez contacted her father through a new Facebook Messenger account. She sent a message indicating she was safe and asked him to stop searching.
Investigators traced the message’s IP address to a location in Dover, Ohio. This discovery led to a coordinated effort involving four sheriff’s investigators from Georgia, who traveled to Ohio.
The investigators located Gomez-Perez and her abductor, Antonio Augustin, at a city swimming pool in Dover. Augustin, a 34-year-old Guatemalan national, was subsequently arrested at a nearby shopping center.
Gomez-Perez was safely recovered and taken to Akron Children’s Hospital for a wellness check before being escorted back to Georgia.
Authorities discovered that Gomez-Perez had been communicating with Augustin and other adult men online before her disappearance. It was reported that she had expressed unhappiness and a desire to leave home, which may have facilitated her decision to meet Augustin.
The investigation revealed that Augustin traveled from Ohio to Georgia, picked up Gomez-Perez, and then drove her back to his home in Dover.
Augustin has been charged with felony interference with custody and is currently held in Ohio. He faces potential additional charges both in Georgia and Ohio, including possible rape and other offenses.
Federal immigration officials have also placed a detainer on Augustin, indicating he might face deportation. His previous legal issues in Tuscarawas County were relatively minor, including citations for driving without a license and an open container violation.
The news of Maria Gomez-Perez’s safe recovery has brought immense relief and joy to her family and the Gainesville community. Her father expressed his gratitude and relief upon hearing of her safe return.
Community leader Art Gallegos Jr. and other residents were instrumental in maintaining public awareness and organizing search efforts.
Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon and Lyman Hall Elementary Principal Angel Rodriguez expressed their gratitude and pride in the community’s response. Couvillon highlighted the critical role of the local Hispanic community in the search, noting their significant contribution to keeping Maria’s case in the public eye.
Sheriff Gerald Couch has emphasized the importance of monitoring children’s online activities to prevent similar situations. While technology played a crucial role in locating Gomez-Perez, it also facilitated her abduction by allowing her to communicate with Augustin and others online.