A Missouri man who allegedly left a Massachusetts library with missing 17-year-old Brittany Thompson has been charged with sex trafficking in connection with the disappearance of the developmentally disabled girl, who was found safe Thursday in Rhode Island.

Brittany was found safe Thursday with the man, identified as 37-year-old Stephen Ardrey of Springfield, Mo., while walking down a Rhode Island street. Surveillance video allegedly captured the pair walking out of the Medfield, Mass., library on Monday.

Ardrey did not enter a plea when he appeared in federal court in Providence on Friday after being charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal activity, WWLP reported. Brittany was found “safe and unharmed” by authorities, according to the television station.

The Massachusetts State Police highlighted Brittany’s disappearance on its Facebook page, posting photos of the then-missing girl and the alleged suspect. Medfield Police Chief Robert Meaney credited the public information campaign with finding Brittany.

“We worked well into the night and had a very safe and successful resolution,” Meaney told the Boston Herald on Thursday morning.

Authorities have not released any photographs of Ardrey, but posts on a Facebook account for a Stephen Michael Ardrey of Missouri closely resembles the possible suspect.

The account’s page showed that Ardrey was in Boston on Sunday and Monday and that he was in Rhode Island on Wednesday.

Below is a picture from the Stephen Michael Ardrey Facebook account and a photo of the suspect from the Massachusetts State Police. Are the photos of the same man? Sound off in the comments section below.

Suspect
Suspect in Brittany Thompson's disappearance. Massachusetts State Police
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