Police Seek Missing 17-Year-Old Last Seen With Convicted Sex Offender

Fredericksburg police reported Thursday that 17-year-old Autumn Van Zandt has been missing since Tuesday and may be traveling with 39-year-old Ronnie Reel. " The department described Van Zandt as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 135 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing a black top, jean shorts, and carrying a red purse. She has a heart-shaped tattoo on her hip.

Reel pleaded guilty in 2022 to misdemeanor assault and battery after being indicted on sodomy and aggravated sexual battery charges involving an 11-year-old victim the previous year. He received a one-year sentence that ended immediately due to time served.

Democratic Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano's office handled the case. A chief of staff from the office told FOX5 that the victim had difficulty remembering details consistently during testimony, leading the family to agree to the plea deal.

Reel was on probation from another Fredericksburg case at the time of the 2021 assault. Descano took office in 2020 and received more than $600,000 in campaign support from a PAC tied to George Soros since 2019.

The Fredericksburg Police Department asked the public for any information on Van Zandt's location. Descano's office did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.