According to a report by Fox 8, investigators rescued the missing North Carolina minor and arrested the man with her during a traffic stop in Kentucky. Authorities at the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said that a caller told 911 that the female passenger in the silver Toyota in front of them on I–75 was making hand gestures that are known on TikTok to represent violence at home, ‘I need help’ and domestic violence.

The Laurel County, Kentucky Sheriff's Department said 61-year-old James Herbert Brick of Cherokee, North Carolina, was arrested for "unlawful imprisonment" after he was pulled over off interstate with the missing teenager in the back seat of his car. The sheriff's office added that he had sexual images of a teenager on his phone.  

James Herbert Brick

The teenager had reportedly travelled with Brick to Ohio, where he had relatives. Once his relatives realised that the girl was underage, Brick tried to get away with her. The teenager kept making the signals until someone understood them and called the police.

“Deputies say they found a photo of a juvenile female being portrayed in a sexual manner on a phone in Brick’s possession. Brick was charged with unlawful imprisonment and possession of matter showing sex performances by a minor," the report added. 

The department did not reveal what sign the teen used. However, here is the signal used to discreetly report domestic violence.