Tennessee Man Charged in Southern District of Ohio Following Multi-State Rescue of Missing Colerain Teenager

Stephen Negron faces life in prison after being charged with transporting a missing Ohio minor to Florida for criminal sexual activity.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 10:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio

The Disappearance and Initial Investigation

The case began in early 2026 after a teenager from Colerain Township was reported missing. According to federal charging documents, the victim’s cell phone was powered off on February 13. Investigators utilized cell site data to pinpoint the phone’s last active location at an intersection near the victim’s home. Security footage from the area identified a silver Chevrolet pickup truck with Tennessee license plates registered to Stephen Negron in the immediate vicinity at the time the phone was deactivated.

Evidence of Prior Criminal Patterns

As the investigation into Negron intensified, authorities uncovered a history of alleged predatory behavior. Court records revealed an active protective order out of Texas involving an 18-year-old female. That victim alleged that Negron met her online in 2023 when she was 16. In that instance, Negron reportedly traveled across state lines to bring her to Tennessee, where he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her while threatening her family with violence. These prior allegations provided critical context for federal agents as they tracked his movements in the current case.

The Pursuit and Florida Recovery

On March 12, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Negron’s residence in Rogersville, Tennessee. The search yielded evidence of a new cell phone number, which agents tracked via GPS pings to a hotel in Palatka, Florida. Surveillance confirmed that Negron had switched vehicles to a white Dodge Ram work truck with Virginia plates. On March 13, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team and local Florida law enforcement located Negron and the missing Ohio teenager at the Quality Inn & Suites Palatka Riverfront. Negron was arrested on site and is currently being transferred to the Southern District of Ohio.