MOLLY LINHARDT - 16 yo - St. Peters MO

Missing St. Charles teen believed to be with registered sex offender

by KMOV.com Staff
Posted on January 15, 2013 at 4:59 AM
Updated today at 8:32 AM



ST. PETERS, Mo. (KMOV ) – St. Peter’s Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating an endangered teen who may be with a registered sex offender.

Police are searching for Molly Linhardt, 16, who was reported missing by her parents Monday, after they dropped her off at work to later find out she was not scheduled to be there.

Police say the parents discovered Linhardt left the Kentucky Fried Chicken located at 1699 Jungermann Road on foot and headed in an unknown direction.

Molly Linhardt was described by police as being a white female standing at 5 foot 3 inches tall. She has blonde hair, blue eyes and is approximately 110 pounds. She was last seen wearing a KFC uniform; black pants, black shirt, black shoes and hat.

It is believed that Linhardt may be with Benjamin Kinkade, 27, of Wright City. He is a registered sex offender after pleading guilty in 2002 for having intercourse with a 12-year-old female. He could be driving a 2006 silver Chevy Colorado with Missouri state license plate 7PT914.

After making several attempts to reach Linhardt by phone, officers believe she is not in possession of her cell phone.

Linhardt is considered an endangered missing juvenile and we are asking anyone with information about her whereabouts call St. Peters Police Department at 636-278-2222.

http://www.kmov.com/home/Missing-St-Peters-teen-believed-to-be-with-registered-sex-offender--186913731.html

Family speaks out about missing St. Charles teen with registered sex offender

by Emily Rau / News 4 and KMOV.com staff
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Updated yesterday at 5:43 PM



ST. PETERS, Mo. (KMOV ) – The family of a 16-year-old St. Charles girl who was reported missing and is with a registered sex offender is pleading for her safe return.

Police said Molly Linhardt was reported missing by her parents Monday after they dropped her off at work. Linhardt’s parents later found out she was not scheduled to work Monday.

Police said surveillance video showed Linhardt left the Kentucky Fried Chicken located at 1699 Jungermann Road on foot and headed in an unknown direction with Benjamin Kinkade, 27, who’s a registered sex offender.

Kinkade pleaded guilty in 2002 for having sex with a 12-year-old girl. Officials said Kinkade may be driving a 2006 silver Chevy Colorado with Missouri state license plate 7PT914.

According to Linhardt’s family, she and Kinkae met at the KFC, where he worked as a manager. The family said he was fired in December when police caught him and Linhardt together and police learned of his criminal history.

The family said Linhardt skipped school Monday to hang out with him..

Police said Linhardt is a white female and about 5-foot 3. She has blonde hair, blue eyes and is weighs 110 pounds. She was last seen wearing a KFC uniform, which includes black pants, black shirt, black shoes and a hat.

After making several attempts to reach Linhardt, officers believe she does not have her cell phone.

Police said they have not yet issued an Amber Alert because they do not believe she is in imminent danger.

“We understand that there’s a danger but it doesn’t meet the criteria and in order to do one of those alerts it has to meet the criteria,” said St. Peters Police Officer Melissa Doss..

Police said Kinkade turned his phone off Monday and is behaving like someone trying who doesn’t want to be found. Police describe Linhardt’s family as “frantic.”

Anyone with information about either Linhardt or Kinkade’s whereabouts is asked to call the St. Peters Police Department at 636-278-2222.

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Family-speaks-out-about-missing-St-Charles-teen-believed-to-be-with-registered-sex-offender--187203691.html

Missing St. Peters Teen Found Safe, Back at Home
Molly Linhardt, 16, has been found, and Benjamin Kinkade was taken into custody without incident and later released.

By Joe Barker
January 24, 2013

After being missing since Jan. 14, 16-year-old Molly Linhardt is back home.

St. Peters Police said Linhardt was located in Monroe County, Mo., shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Police said the Monroe County Sheriff's Department were contacted by a family member of Benjamin Kinkade, 27. Police believed Linhardt was with Kinkade when she disappeared nine days ago. Kinkade's family member wanted to turn Linhardt and Kinkade.

The Sheriff’s Department responded to the residence and found Linhardt safe with no visible injuries.

Kinkade was taken into custody by the Sherrif's department without incident. He later was released and is no longer in custody.

Linhardt was brought back home by her family. Follow-up investigations are being conducted by Monroe County Sheriff’s Department in regards to Kinkade.

Doss said Linhardt and Kinkade met at the KFC where Kinkade was a manager. Kinkade was fired from the restaurant in December.

Linhardt went missing Monday, Jan. 14. St. Peters Police said that Linhardt was reported missing at around 7 p.m. that night. Earlier that day her father dropped her off for work at Kentucky Fried Chicken, however, he later found out she was not scheduled to work.

St. Peters Police Media Relations Officer Melissa Doss said Molly skipped school at Francis Howell North on Jan. 14. When her father came to pick her up, he saw her with Kinkade. Her phone was taken away and later that night she was gone.

Police said Linhardt was with 27-year-old Benjamin Kinkade. Doss said Linhardt and Kinkade met at KFC where Kinkade was a manager. Kinkade was fired from the restaurant in December.

Kinkade is a registered sex offender in Missouri. According to court documents, Kinkade entered a guilty plea on a charge of first degree statutory rape in 2005.

http://stpeters.patch.com/articles/missing-st-peters-teen-found-safe-back-at-home-st-peters-teen-found-safe-sex-offender-in-custody