Vermont Teen Who Went Missing With Sex Offender Found in Conn.

A missing 16-year-old Vermont girl who went missing with a 47-year-old convicted sex offender was found in Connecticut on Thursday.

Mickayla Lozell, 16, of Alburgh, was reported missing around 5 p.m. Sunday and investigators said they believed she was with 47-year-old William Smith, a convicted sex offender whose last known address was in Swanton, Vermont.

The teen was a ward of the state, but was living with her mother at the time.

Connecticut State Police received information that the missing teen was seen with Smith inside Walmart at 180 River Road in Lisbon, Connecticut, and the man’s vehicle was found in the parking lot at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Vermont State Police said.

Connecticut State Police responded to the area and located Lozell and Smith shortly after, Vermont troopers said.

The 16-year-old was found in good health and was taken into protective custody.

Smith has active arrest warrants out in Vermont and faces multiple charges after being taken into custody. Police learned that Smith's license plate was a misused plate and his license was suspended.

According to Vermont police, Smith does not have a permanent address listed with Vermont's sex offender registry and he was not considered a high-risk offender after a 1999 sexual assault conviction.

Lozell called a friend and said that she was OK and in New Hampshire, Vermont investigators said. Police said they did not suspect foul play or believe that Lozell was being held against her will.

Smith was charged in Connecticut with being a fugitive from justice without a warrant, operating a vehicle without a license and improper use of license plates.