Man, 30, in custody in connection with missing Medfield teen

MEDFIELD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com/AP) – A 30-year-old man has been placed in federal custody in connection with the missing Medfield teen who was discovered in Coventry, R.I. Thursday morning.

Stephen Ardrey is expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan Friday.

Brittany Thompson, 17, was spotted walking down a street in Coventry, R.I., at about 7:30 a.m., Medfield Police Chief Robert Meaney Jr. said.

Brittany, who is developmentally disabled and from Medfield, Mass., was last seen Monday leaving the library in her hometown with a man her parents say she met online.

"I want to emphasize the fact that she is safe, she is unharmed, she is OK," Meaney said, adding that she was brought to Coventry police headquarters where she was reunited with her parents. It's about 50 miles from Medfield to Coventry.

Brittany was found with a man, but Meaney said it was not immediately clear if it was the same one she was seen with on library surveillance video. No names or ages were released.

Her disappearance remains under investigation.

"We have had a conversation with the district attorney's office and there are no criminal charges pending," Meaney said.

Authorities had said Brittany appeared to have left the library voluntarily and was not abducted, but at a news conference Wednesday, Meaney said she may be in danger.

Brittany is a high school senior, but the chief said she has "developmental issues" that affect her "ability to make safe decisions."

Her mother, Maureen Thompson, described her daughter as a "sweet, sensitive, innocent, but very emotionally young girl."

Cox Media Group