Fort Lauderdale teen who ran away stayed at hotel with man, police say

Police: Shaina McBride ran away from home, stayed at beach hotel with 19-year-old man

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 14-year-old Fort Lauderdale girl who ran away from home Friday morning was found Wednesday staying at a hotel with a 19-year-old man, according to Fort Lauderdale police.

Police said Shaina McBride was staying at Casa Alhambra Hotel at 3026 Alhambra St. with James Prescovitz-Gider.

Investigators said Shaina and Prescovitz-Gider, 19, began a relationship in June, after meeting on a site called Badoo on her phone. She has been residing with him at the hotel since she left her home, police said.

James Prescovitz-Gider.

Detectives learned the two engaged in numerous consensual sexual encounters over the past several days. They said McBride told them the man claimed to be an FBI agent and showed her a badge, handcuffs and multiple firearms.

Due to the differences in their age, Prescovitz-Gider was arrested on two counts of lewd and lascivious battery of a minor, according to police.

The nightmare was over Wednesday for Shaina's father, David McBride. Shaina was finally found at a hotel, not abducted the way her father feared.

"You ever have a nightmare and you are in the dream and you want out and you can't get out? That's the way I felt," said David McBride.

Police revealed she ran away.

"Everyone's safe. Kids aren't harmed," said Fort Lauderdale police Capt. Frank Sousa. "She voluntarily ran away. This was a decision she made on her own."

"Something and someone had to be involved here that got her to where she is now," said McBride.

Friends and family were passing out fliers, searching for the straight-A student who was last seen Friday morning at her home in the area of Las Olas Boulevard and Isle of Venice. They said she had nothing but a cellphone -- not even shoes.

Her father said early Wednesday, no matter how this all happened, it doesn't matter. He's just happy to have his daughter back with him and safe.

"That's all the matters," said McBride. "How and all that is not even in the picture. I'm just thinking she's safe. She's there."

On Thursday, Gider's bond was reduced from $20,000 to $15,000. 

The FBI is assisting the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in the investigation.