We have our first Florida Man story of 2024 on our corner of the internet, primarily because tracking down and finding him involved using a World of Warcraft account: 31-year-old Florida resident Thomas Ebersole was found and arrested last week for allegedly traveling to Ohio to meet a 16-year-old girl, bringing her back to his residence, and holding her in his custody in the hopes of marrying her.
Tracking the missing girl was done through following her WoW account, tracing its use by the girl to Ebersole’s address. When contacted by police, Ebersole first denied knowing the girl, but later admitted to meeting the victim and bringing her to his home. He told authorities that he was in a relationship with the victim and planned on hiding her in his home so she could become his wife, and additionally shared messages that admitted he would visit her and wanted to have sex with her.
Ebersole is charged with traveling to meet a minor to engage in sex, child custody interference, and sheltering an unmarried minor. He is currently in custody without bond at a Marion County jail.
