A missing female teenager who was believed to be with her 19-year-old boyfriend returned Wednesday, June 22, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.
Giao Thuy Lai, 17, was last seen May 15 when she returned to her parent's residence in the 20200 block of Brookview Square in Ashburn, after having been reported missing by her parents three weeks earlier and was said to have left at that time on her own accord.
The boyfriend, Edson Mejia of Sterling, remains at large and is wanted on assault charges after he dragged the missing juvenile's 45-year-old mother a short distance with his car after an altercation, according to the report.
The charges stem from the May incident, around 9:15 p.m., when the mother, concerned her daughter was going to try to leave again, attempted to hold Giao in the house. The boyfriend is alleged to have pushed the mother out of the way. Eventually the two teens would get into a black
or dark-colored Toyota, possibly a model year 2001 Celica with Virginia license plates. The mother attempted to keep the pair from leaving by grabbing onto the car. Mejia drove away, dragging the woman a short distance, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The woman was taken to the Lansdowne Campus of Loudoun Hospital where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Sheriff's Office obtained warrants for Mejia's arrest on
charges of felony hit and run, assault and battery, malicious wounding and driving while revoked. He is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes and is said to also go by the name of Edson Vargas or Edson Vargas Mejia.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mejia is asked to contact Investigator C. Perinis of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475. If the caller would like to remain anonymous they should contact Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.