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FDLE: Ohio runaway not in danger

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The Associated Press

Published: September 14, 2009

Updated: 09/14/2009 07:16 pm

ORLANDO - An investigation by Florida authorities unsealed Monday found there were no credible threats to a teenager who ran away from her Ohio home because she said she feared for her life after converting to Christianity from Islam.

A summary of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into 17-year-old Rifqa Bary's allegations found no reports of threats against her in Florida or Ohio.

Attorneys involved in the case are under a gag order and were not able to comment.

The teenager ran away from her parents' suburban Columbus home in July, saying she feared being killed for changing religions.

The Florida agency's summary filled in some gaps about how Bary was able to get to Florida, where she met up and found a temporary home with the Rev. Blake Lorenz, pastor of Orlando, Fla.-based Global Revolution Church. Authorities said Bary met him through an online Facebook prayer group.

The report said Bary was picked up by a friend she knew from the House of Prayer in Columbus, Ohio, and driven to a bus station. From there, she took a bus to Orlando. The report said her bus ticket was purchased in Orlando under a fictious name.

The teenager is in foster care in Orlando, where a judge has been holding family court hearings to determine whether she should be returned to Ohio.

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