Missing Teen Found in Registered Sex Offender’s Closet in Florida [WATCH]

A missing 17-year-old girl in Florida was located inside the home of a registered sex offender after investigators found her hiding in a bedroom closet, authorities said Tuesday, as reported by Fox News.

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded Monday to a tip from Orange County deputies indicating the runaway teen might be staying with a man in Dundee. Investigators identified the man as 30-year-old Alexis Diaz-Toledo.

According to the sheriff’s office, Diaz-Toledo initially told detectives he had not seen the girl for several days and denied knowing where she was. Authorities said he also refused at first to allow deputies to search his home.

17-year-old girl missing from Orange County Located Safely after deputies Found Hiding in a Closet of a Sex Offender

30-year-old Alexis Diaz-Toledo, a registered sex offender, on Shepard Avenue in search of the missing juvenile. Authorities report that Diaz-Toledo initially… pic.twitter.com/lj89pc1rO9

— American Crime Stories (@AmericanCrime01) April 14, 2026

During the investigation, detectives determined Diaz-Toledo was in violation of sex offender registration requirements after failing to report two vehicles kept at his residence.

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That violation gave authorities grounds to continue their investigation at the property.

When detectives ultimately conducted a search of the home, they located the missing teen hiding in a bedroom closet, according to officials.

The girl was safely recovered and returned to her family. Authorities did not provide additional details about how she came to be at Diaz-Toledo’s home or how long she had been there.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd addressed the case and raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the situation.

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“A 30-year old male sex offender is not the kind of person you want giving a 17-year old girl a place to stay,” Judd said.

“I can assure you that Alexis Diaz-Toledo did not have the missing juvenile’s best interests in mind. Suffice to say, we gave Alexis a place to stay for a while — at the Polk County Jail.”

Diaz-Toledo was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including two counts of failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, interfering with custody of a minor, sheltering a minor without notifying a parent, and providing false information to law enforcement during a missing person investigation.

Jail records show Diaz-Toledo remained in custody as of Wednesday and was not eligible for bond.

Authorities also confirmed that Diaz-Toledo has been listed as a registered sex offender since a 2014 conviction for lewd and lascivious battery involving a minor between the ages of 12 and 15.

The investigation involved coordination between law enforcement agencies in Polk and Orange counties, leading to the discovery of the teen and the arrest of the suspect.

Officials have not released additional information about whether further charges could be filed or if additional individuals may be involved.

The case remains under investigation as authorities review the circumstances surrounding the teen’s disappearance and recovery.

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