• Stephen Negron, 42, of Rogersville, Tennessee, federally charged with transporting a 16-year-old Colerain Township girl with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
• Teen Madison Fields reported missing February 16 after telling her mother she was staying with a friend.
• Investigators tracked her to a Florida hotel with Negron using cell records, security footage, and license plate readers.
• Negron allegedly picked up the teen near her home in a silver Chevrolet truck and took her to Tennessee before traveling to Florida.
• If convicted, Negron faces 10 years to life in prison.
• U.S. Attorney praises multi-agency effort to recover the teen and prosecute those who prey on children.
CINCINNATI, Ohio — A second suspect has been federally charged in the ongoing investigation of a previously missing Colerain Township teenager who was found in Florida.
Stephen Negron, 42, of Rogersville, Tennessee, is accused of transporting 16-year-old Madison Fields with the intent of engaging in criminal sexual activity, according to U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Ohio Dominick Gerace II.
Fields was reported missing Feb. 16 after her parents had not seen or heard from her in three days. She had told her mom she was staying the weekend at a local friend’s house, a place she has stayed before. However, the parent of the friend told police the last time she saw Madison was Feb. 13.
Through cell phone records, security footage, license plate readers and a previous protection order out of Texas, investigators were able to track down the missing girl at a Florida hotel, allegedly with Negron.
If convicted, Negron could face 10 years to life in prison.
“I want to commend the excellent work of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, recovery, and prosecution,” said Gerace. “My office is proud to partner with these outstanding public servants to ensure that our children remain safe from those who seek to prey upon them.”
The investigation revealed that Madison’s father believed his daughter may have been meeting a male named Josh. A friend received a text from an unknown number claiming to be the victim saying “Tell (redacted) I’m ok,” but a follow-up response stated “She will get rape, and is being rape.”
Cell phone data showed her device powered off at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 near Cheviot and West Galbraith roads in Cincinnati. Footage from a Thorntons gas station captured a silver Chevrolet truck with Tennessee plates at the same time and location. The truck reportedly made a roundtrip from Tennessee to Cincinnati.
An individual told police that Madison had met a person online called “Dad Bod,” believed to be around 40 years old, and had previously stayed with him at a hotel. She was thought to be with that man after her disappearance.
Surveillance at Negron’s Rogersville home and discovery of a 2024 protection order from Texas involving another teen further linked him to the case. During a search of his home, authorities found a similar backpack to the one Madison had when she went missing, teenage girl’s clothes, and items connected to a phone number assigned to Negron.
That phone number later pinged to the Quality Inn & Suites at Palatka Riverfront Hotel in Palatka, Florida. Negron was located there with the minor in room 142 and arrested.
The teen told officials she met Negron on Tumblr. He reportedly told her he could give her a better life, provide necessities and clothes, and that it was okay she was 16. He allegedly picked her up down the street from her residence in a grey Silverado, had her delete things from her phone, and destroyed it. Once at his home in Tennessee, the situation reportedly differed from what she expected, with Negron stating he would have taken her even if she were younger than 16.
Negron was arrested on charges out of the Eastern District of Tennessee and will be transferred to the Southern District of Ohio to face charges involving the Colerain teen.
Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of collaborative law enforcement efforts in protecting minors from online predators and ensuring swift recovery and accountability in cases like this.