America's military is supposed to be made up of our best—and this time, one of its own stands accused of something so egregious that there are no words strong enough to fully capture the outrage.
According to ABC News, authorities say an active-duty U.S. Marine was arrested on charges tied to the alleged kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl in Indiana, after traveling across multiple states to meet her with what federal officials suggest were deeply troubling intentions.
William Richard Roy, 24, is currently in federal custody after the FBI tracked him down in Durham, North Carolina, and recovered the young girl whom he allegedly transported across state lines.
Investigators Say Marine Traveled To Meet Minor
Roy, stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, reportedly boarded a flight to Chicago last week, where he met the 12-year-old girl in a public park.
The meeting, according to officials, led to Roy taking the girl to a hotel overnight—an action that escalated the concern about his motives and sparked a law enforcement response when the girl’s family reported her missing on Friday.
Rather than return home, Roy is accused of continuing the journey by bus from Illinois to North Carolina with the child in tow.
FBI Recovers Girl Safely, Arrests Marine
The FBI was able to locate Roy in Durham two days later, on Sunday, and safely recover the young girl. No further details have been released on her condition, but federal agents confirmed she had been rescued. “The girl was ‘safely recovered,’” the FBI stated, a small silver lining in a story that otherwise represents a serious breach of the public’s trust, especially when the alleged perpetrator wears our nation’s uniform.
Roy now faces three federal charges related to enticing and transporting a minor across state lines for an unlawful sexual purpose—a heavy list of accusations that, if true, demand accountability without exception.
Silence From Military Leadership Raises Concern
Interestingly, the U.S. Marine Corps has remained tight-lipped amid these serious allegations. Despite the shock such a case might reasonably generate within the chain of command, no comment has been issued to date.
Military institutions are not immune from failure, but silence in the face of such charges sends a poor signal to the public and to fellow Marines who expect their institution to stand for integrity—even when the news is horrific. It gets worse. Media outlets attempted to reach a phone number reportedly associated with Roy, but whoever answered declined to offer any insight. That’s an unsettling level of opacity around a case involving a 12-year-old child.
Federal Charges Could Carry Heavy Penalties
While details in the open record are limited, the fact that Roy was charged at the federal level suggests how seriously authorities are treating the alleged conduct.
Enticing and transporting a minor across state lines is among the most serious categories of federal crime, and if convicted, Roy could spend substantial time in prison—a legal outcome still pending due process, but one that many would say is deserved if the facts hold. In cases like this, it's not just a question of criminal behavior. It's a matter of moral collapse—a disgrace to the uniform, to the oath of service, and to the very idea of protecting the innocent.
Law Enforcement’s Rapid Response Praised
Credit where it’s due—the FBI acted swiftly, headed off what could have become an even more devastating crime, and ensured the girl’s recovery with no physical harm reported, at least publicly so far. Time matters in these kinds of investigations, and the agency’s quick response likely made the difference between rescue and something far worse. Americans rightly expect decisive action when a child goes missing, particularly under suspicious circumstances.
This case is a painful reminder that evil can surface in any profession, even within the institutions Americans traditionally place their confidence in. Trust doesn’t come with a uniform—it comes with accountability.
