Ohio authorities are searching for a man facing child pornography charges after disappearing with his girlfriend and two children more than two weeks ago.
WTOV9 reports that 45-year-old Wesley Burdge, his girlfriend Tabitha Gallagher, 38, and her two kids, Lexington Gallagher, 5, and Khaleesci Gallagher, 1, disappeared from Belmont County over two weeks ago, shortly after police took out a warrant for Burdge’s arrest on child porn charges. Authorities indicated that their main concern is safely locating the two young children. The family may have traveled into another country.
Local investigators indicated that international authorities have been alerted, although it’s unclear which country the family may have traveled to.
“We’ve been working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and they’ve been doing a phenomenal job helping us,” Detective Doug Cruse said. “They created posters and are also conducting an online campaign on their website and media campaigns to get the word out on these missing children.”
#MISSING Lexington and Khaleecsi were last seen at home on October 11, 2018 IN Flushing, OH
They may be in the company of their parents, Wesley Burdge and Tabitha Gallagher. A felony warrant is on file for Wesley. The may be in a 2002 Silver Honda Odyssey #Ohio plates, HBS4801 pic.twitter.com/ypxSSDBHUb
— NCMEC (@MissingKids) October 25, 2018
According to authorities, Burdge and his roommate, Jon Garwon, are both accused of sharing and viewing child pornography in their Flushing residence. While Garwon was arrested and appeared in court earlier this month, Burdge fled with Gallagher and the children shortly after his roommate’s arrest.
Belmont County Sheriff’s Department Detective Ryan Allar said that both men had plans to molest the children they shared pornography of.
“Tons of vile disgusting matter. At that point, they had a warrant for Garwon only, but soon discovered the two men were both involved. They were both sharing child pornography together and not only that, they had a sexual history their selves and they had plans to molest these children.”
Burdge, Gallagher and the children could possibly be driving a a silver 2001 Honda Odyssey, according to WTRF.
The suspect is a white male with brown hair and green eyes. He stands 5-feet-8-inches tall and weighs around 120 pounds. Gallagher, who police are currently trying to obtain a warrant for, is a white female with blonde hair and brown eyes. She stands 5-feet-4-inches tall and weighs around 145 pounds.
“It’s dangerous,” Chief Deputy James Zusack of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department added. “It’s also disturbing that the two adults decided to go on the run with these children.”
Anyone with any information on their whereabouts is urged to immediately call 911.
[Feature Photo: Khaleesci Gallagher and Lexington Gallagher/NCMEC]
