A St. Gabriel man has been arrested after a missing teenager was found with him, more than two years after her disappearance. The discovery was made when police encountered Lionel Moore, 39, who was observed urinating in public.
The Arrest of Lionel Moore
According to St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau, officers made contact with Moore after noticing him engaging in suspicious behavior. When officers checked his driver’s license, they discovered that Moore had outstanding warrants for failure to register as a s*x offender in East Baton Rouge. However, this was just the beginning of the shocking findings.
Missing Teen Found in Moore’s Car
Upon further investigation, police found a 15-year-old girl in Moore’s vehicle. The teen had been reported missing out of Baton Rouge in February 2024, when she was just 15 years old. Moore’s car and the girl’s behavior raised suspicions.
Chief Ambeau explained that when the officer first encountered the teenager, she appeared older than her actual age, dressed like a 17-year-old, and gave several conflicting dates of birth that did not match her age. It was only after further questioning that the teen admitted she had been living with Moore for almost three years.
Teen’s Mother Contacted
The girl’s mother, who had reported her missing, had since moved out of state. Authorities were able to contact her after the St. Gabriel Police reached out.
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) was contacted to assist in ensuring the teen’s safety and well-being following her recovery.
Moore’s Background and Arrest
Moore was taken into custody on a felony warrant out of East Baton Rouge for failure to register as a s*x offender. He had previously been convicted of indecent behavior with juveniles in Iberville Parish and had been arrested multiple times in East Baton Rouge Parish for violating s*x offender registration laws.
Ongoing Investigation
While Moore faces serious charges, Chief Ambeau noted that detectives are still working to determine whether the situation involves s*x trafficking. Police are reviewing body camera footage and utilizing facial recognition technology to check whether the teen has been involved in any s*x trafficking rings.
“We’re trying to get any possible information, including checking if she’s listed on any known trafficking websites,” Ambeau said.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities are working to piece together the full extent of the situation.
