Earlier in the month, early Friday evening November 7th, a report of a missing juvenile from central Curry County was received by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center just after 6:20pm.
The dispatch center was informed that the child left her home on foot at around 12:30pm and was seen getting into a vehicle with an unidentified adult male in Gold Beach at around 3:30pm.
Dispatch contacted a Curry County Sheriff’s deputy who then contacted the family of the missing child. Together, with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the deputy worked swiftly with fellow Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force as well as investigators at the Crescent City Police Department to obtain digital information that may help in locating the child.
That investigation led Curry County Sheriff’s deputies to the residence of two adults in Harbor, about 30 miles away from where the child was last seen. The child was thankfully found at that residence and taken into protective custody before being reunited with her parents at around 2:00am.
Over the next several days, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office continued the investigation, working with the family and Wally’s House of Curry County.
A search warrant was executed at a Harbor residence on Tuesday, November 18th, and two adults were taken into custody. 21 year old Nathan Stender was arrested on 2 counts of 3rd Degree Rape, 3 counts 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse, and 2nd Degree Luring a Minor and Custodial Interference.
22 year old Autumn Vila was arrested for 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse and Custodial Interference. Both suspects were lodged in the Curry County Jail.
On Wednesday, November 19th, both Nathan Stender and Autumn Vila were arraigned in the Curry County Circuit Court. Bail was set by the judge at arraignment, and subsequently at approximately 3:00pm, both subjects posted the required security and were released from custody.
Their release includes conditions of release set by the State Courts, and a follow-up court date. The victim’s family had been notified prior to their release from custody.
