One month since she went missing, Colerain Township 16-year-old Madison Fields has been found safe in Florida. Teen found safe, suspect in custodyThe FBI Cincinnati, the Colerain Police Department, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) announced that Fields has been safely rescued in Florida, after a weekslong search that began in mid-February. Fields’ family first reported her missing on Feb. 16.Cincinnati FBI officials said Fields was found after they identified a “person of interest” in her disappearance who lives in Tennessee. Officials said the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) was deployed to the suspect’s home, but the suspect fled before they got there. They were then able to identify a hotel in Florida where the suspect was believed to be at. An alert went out for him and his vehicle. His vehicle was later located by FBI Jacksonville and local police in a parking lot in Palatka, Florida. Police say Fields was then found safe at the local hotel. The suspect was taken into custody. Officials have not yet shared his identity or the charges he’s facing. FBI assists in teen’s rescue“We are thankful Madison is safe and will soon be back in Ohio,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “I want to thank all the law enforcement agencies involved for their relentless work to find Madison.”“We are all relieved that Madison has been safely located,” stated Colerain Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III. “Colerain Police and our partners never gave up hope that she would be found. I am thankful for the hard work of our officers and detectives and the support of the community.”“The successful rescue of this teen is the product of strong law enforcement partnerships and underscores the vital role of Endangered Missing Child alerts,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “When a child is reported missing, law enforcement uses every tool at their disposal and leaves no stone unturned.”The rescue comes after a weekslong search that resulted in another suspect’s arrest.Family shares reactionAlexis Thompson, a family friend, shared a statement with WLWT, saying they are overwhelmed and thankful.”By the grace of God Madison has been located in Florida. I spoke with her dad about 30 minutes before the press had even released it. He was overwhelmed, but mostly just thankful that she was OK. He said he didn’t even know what part of Florida she was in, but that Madison was safe at this time. You can imagine her family and friends can’t wait to get Madison back home to Cincinnati,” Thompson said.She added that right now, the family is requesting time to process the news.”I know they want to thank everyone for their prayers and shares all over social media Cincinnati area. We can’t thank you all enough every little detail matters and finally the family and friends can have some type of conclusion I can imagine she’s probably overwhelmed and confused as she’s just a 16-year-old girl, but I really hope Madison knows how loved she is. Thank you to the Colerain Police Department, Florida police department, FBI, all those who were involved in getting Maddison back home.”Separate federal arrestKyle Lawrence, a 43-year-old man from New York, is facing federal sexual exploitation charges in connection with the case. Lawrence is accused of committing sex crimes against Fields.Colerain Township Police said Lawrence hasn’t been charged in connection with Fields’ disappearance. Officers did confirm that Lawrence had previous interactions with the teenager.According to an affidavit, Lawrence said he communicated with Fields on Snapchat and traveled to the Cincinnati area twice in January to meet her.FBI agents in Buffalo conducted a search warrant at Lawrence’s residence and took several devices, which they said contained child sexual abuse material.Lawrence has been charged with transportation with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, travel with the intent to engage in illicit conduct and transportation of child pornography.In 2024, federal investigators said online vigilantes claimed Lawrence tried to meet a 15-year-old girl in Canada.This is a developing story, WLWT will continue to update with more information as it comes in.

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio —

One month since she went missing, Colerain Township 16-year-old Madison Fields has been found safe in Florida.

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#Breaking – Madison Fields, missing from Colerain Township, OH since last month, has been safely rescued in Palatka, FL by the #FBI and local police. We are thankful for the efforts of law enforcement across multiple states and the support of the public. More details:… pic.twitter.com/FM92lrhSPw

— FBI Cincinnati (@FBICincinnati) March 13, 2026

Teen found safe, suspect in custody

The FBI Cincinnati, the Colerain Police Department, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) announced that Fields has been safely rescued in Florida, after a weekslong search that began in mid-February.

Fields’ family first reported her missing on Feb. 16.

Cincinnati FBI officials said Fields was found after they identified a “person of interest” in her disappearance who lives in Tennessee.

Officials said the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) was deployed to the suspect’s home, but the suspect fled before they got there.

They were then able to identify a hotel in Florida where the suspect was believed to be at. An alert went out for him and his vehicle. His vehicle was later located by FBI Jacksonville and local police in a parking lot in Palatka, Florida.

Police say Fields was then found safe at the local hotel.

The suspect was taken into custody. Officials have not yet shared his identity or the charges he’s facing.

FBI assists in teen’s rescue

“We are thankful Madison is safe and will soon be back in Ohio,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “I want to thank all the law enforcement agencies involved for their relentless work to find Madison.”

“We are all relieved that Madison has been safely located,” stated Colerain Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III. “Colerain Police and our partners never gave up hope that she would be found. I am thankful for the hard work of our officers and detectives and the support of the community.”

“The successful rescue of this teen is the product of strong law enforcement partnerships and underscores the vital role of Endangered Missing Child alerts,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “When a child is reported missing, law enforcement uses every tool at their disposal and leaves no stone unturned.”

The rescue comes after a weekslong search that resulted in another suspect’s arrest.

Family shares reaction

Alexis Thompson, a family friend, shared a statement with WLWT, saying they are overwhelmed and thankful.

“By the grace of God Madison has been located in Florida. I spoke with her dad about 30 minutes before the press had even released it. He was overwhelmed, but mostly just thankful that she was OK. He said he didn’t even know what part of Florida she was in, but that Madison was safe at this time. You can imagine her family and friends can’t wait to get Madison back home to Cincinnati,” Thompson said.

She added that right now, the family is requesting time to process the news.

“I know they want to thank everyone for their prayers and shares all over social media Cincinnati area. We can’t thank you all enough every little detail matters and finally the family and friends can have some type of conclusion I can imagine she’s probably overwhelmed and confused as she’s just a 16-year-old girl, but I really hope Madison knows how loved she is. Thank you to the Colerain Police Department, Florida police department, FBI, all those who were involved in getting Maddison back home.”

Separate federal arrest

Kyle Lawrence, a 43-year-old man from New York, is facing federal sexual exploitation charges in connection with the case.

Lawrence is accused of committing sex crimes against Fields.

Colerain Township Police said Lawrence hasn’t been charged in connection with Fields’ disappearance. Officers did confirm that Lawrence had previous interactions with the teenager.

According to an affidavit, Lawrence said he communicated with Fields on Snapchat and traveled to the Cincinnati area twice in January to meet her.

FBI agents in Buffalo conducted a search warrant at Lawrence’s residence and took several devices, which they said contained child sexual abuse material.

Lawrence has been charged with transportation with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, travel with the intent to engage in illicit conduct and transportation of child pornography.

In 2024, federal investigators said online vigilantes claimed Lawrence tried to meet a 15-year-old girl in Canada.

This is a developing story, WLWT will continue to update with more information as it comes in.