Executive Summary
- Wynter Wagoner, 13, was found in Maryland after missing from Kentucky since October 14.
- Police arrested Christian Delgado, 37, at the Silver Spring residence where the teen was located.
- Delgado is charged with kidnapping and awaits extradition to Kentucky.
- The operation involved the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and state police agencies.
SILVER SPRING, Md. — A 13-year-old girl reported missing from Rockcastle County, Kentucky, in mid-October has been located safe in Maryland, leading to the arrest of a 37-year-old man on kidnapping charges, authorities announced.
Wynter Wagoner was last seen on October 14, prompting a comprehensive search operation involving the Rockcastle County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service. According to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), the search concluded on December 27 when investigators located the teenager at a residence in Silver Spring, Maryland, located just outside Washington, D.C.
During the recovery operation, officers encountered Christian Delgado, 37, at the location where the juvenile was found. Law enforcement officials stated that Delgado was immediately taken into custody and is currently detained at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. He has been charged with kidnapping and is being held pending extradition to Kentucky.
Following the discovery, Wagoner was transported to a local area hospital for a standard medical evaluation. While officials confirmed her recovery, details regarding her condition and the timeline for reunification with her family have not been publicly released.
Interstate Jurisdictional Procedures
The successful recovery of the teenager underscores the critical role of inter-agency cooperation between local police and federal bureaus like the U.S. Marshals in resolving cases that span multiple jurisdictions. As the investigation transitions to the judicial phase, the primary procedural step involves the extradition of the suspect from Maryland to Kentucky to face the filed charges. It is important to note that all individuals, including Christian Delgado, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
