YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Update, June 4, 2024: According to online court documents, Dale Kumler, now 25, pled guilty to statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor on May 30.
Previously: A Glen Rock man is facing numerous charges following a multi-state search for a missing New York teenager.
Dale Kumler, 24, is facing statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors, among other related charges.
On May 25, the Erie County Sheriff's Office in New York and Pennsylvania State Police began the search for a missing teenage girl from Grand Island, New York.
The girl had last been seen in the area of Bedell, New York, and was believed to be in the area of Dauphin or York Counties.
According to the criminal complaint, police made contact with the girl's parents, and they told investigators about communication she had with a man named "Dale" through Xbox.
Police say they cross-referenced three Xbox usernames associated with the girl's account on Instagram, and found an account bearing the name of "Dale Kumler."
Authorities were able to connect the account to a Glen Rock man, and they searched his cell phone number for its provider and information.
According to the criminal complaint, records from the cell phone company indicated that Kumler's phone was located in Erie County, New York at 11:20 p.m. on May 24, and tracked south to Glen Rock, Pennsylvania around 5:00 a.m. on May 25.
Later that day, State Police went to Kumler's home in the 600 block of Toad Valley Road and spoke with him.
At that time, Kumler told police that he had picked the girl up in his vehicle, but had left her in Harrisburg.
Police say they took Kumler into custody at that time.
According to the criminal complaint, during a second interview with Kumler, he admitted to having inappropriate contact with the victim before having dropped her off.
Investigators searched Kumler's home and found the victim hiding beneath a pile of clothing on his bed.
After the victim was located, Kumler admitted to driving the girl from her home in New York to his home in Glen Rock where he had inappropriate contact with her.
Kumler was arraigned Friday afternoon and taken to York County Prison without bail.
A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 9.
