10/22/2009
ERIN MATHEWS
HIAWATHA — A 17-year-old Lehigh girl who Marion County authorities believe was taken from her home against her will was found unharmed in Hiawatha Thursday morning, and a 21-year-old Texas man she was with has been taken into custody.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies were on the way to Brown County Thursday afternoon to pick up Tara Renee Simhiser, who had been missing since she was reported as a runaway juvenile Tuesday afternoon, said Marion County Undersheriff David Huntley.
Although she was initially thought to have run away, further investigation led authorities to believe she may have been forced to leave in the company of Rojelio Hernandez, 21, of Texas. Hernandez was arrested without incident and will be brought back to Marion County for questioning, Huntley said.


For more on how this girl was rescued, read reporter Erin Mathews' story in Friday's Salina Journal.