Oct 06, 2008 - 02:49 PM

By Chris Hall

BLACKSTOCK -- A Blackstock teen who vanished last Wednesday was reunited with her grandparents on the weekend after authorities tracked her to an Edmonton drug house, where she was found with a man who is now facing abduction charges relating to her disappearance.

After a whirlwind few days agonizing over the whereabouts of her granddaughter, who police say had struck up a relationship with a 22-year-old man over the Internet, the victim's grandmother let out a long sigh of relief on Monday morning, hours after the victim was safely returned to the family's home.

"We're so tired and so relieved and so exhausted," said her grandmother. "She came back very scared, of course, and embarrassed, but very, very tired."

The Port Perry Star does not print information that would identify the victim of a crime.

The teen's cross-country tale began last Wednesday when she was first reported missing by her grandparents, who are her legal guardians, after she failed to show up for her Grade 9 classes and cancelled a hair appointment.

After days of anxious worrying, however, the family received a call on early Saturday morning stating the teenager had been located in an Edmonton drug house. According to Durham police, investigators from the North Durham division working with the Edmonton Police Service and the Alberta Children's Aid Authority were able to track her down to a known drug den.

At that time, a 22-year-old man, who is known to police, was arrested and charged in connection with the girl's disappearance.

She was flown home on Saturday evening, in the care of social workers.

"We had no idea, no idea where she was. (Finding her in Edmonton) was absolutely a surprise. We had no idea," said the grandmother. She stressed that she did not want to reveal too much information about the incident so as not to jeopardize the police investigation.

"I guess that's where he decided to take her."

The teen escaped her ordeal unharmed physically, said her grandmother. But she will need some time, and help, coming to grips mentally with what she endured.

"Physically, no, she wasn't harmed. She was (rescued) in time, it was a real miracle how they got to her. She's just one of the lucky ones. All she needs is a sound sleep, badly."

After some time at home, the victim opened up to her grandparents on Sunday evening and shared details surrounding her experience. It was also a lesson learned about the potential dark side of the Internet, for both the teen and her caregivers, added her grandmother.

The young man involved in the incident "knew all her weaknesses and pushed all her buttons." It was a hard lesson for the teen to learn, continued the grandmother, but now she "realizes this is how people work. It's not that they love her, they just want to use her."

It's certainly been a trying few days for the family, a difficult time made somewhat easier by help from the community.

"I want to thank the community for their concern and help. We can't say enough. The help we got was excellent, excellent," she said.

Charged in connection with the Blackstock teen's disappearance is Tyler James White, 22, of no fixed address. He faces charges of abducting a person under 16, sexual interference and sexual assault.