Florida man had sexual relationship with Filipina he illegally adopted aged 12

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Andy Bosch remains in custody as investigations continue

A Florida businessman is accused of illegally adopting a 12-year-old Filipina girl and having a sexual relationship with her.

Andy Bosch is facing charges for enticing the girl to the United States and then snatching her from the foster care system that tried to protect her.

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According to a report on WFTV9, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) said his ex-wife, Melody, illegally adopted the girl, who she claimed was a distant relative.

ICE agents said in a report that while the couple were still together, Bosch’s wife appeared to be upset that her husband and the girl, who is now 17, were “developing feelings for one another”.

In March 2016, the girl was placed into foster care.

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For months, it was reported, the girl would call and text Bosch, and the two would meet up. In October she ran away from the foster home.

“It seems like the victim in this case was a willing participant with the suspect, and that’s very unfortunate,” Osceola County Sheriff Office spokesman Captain Jacob Ruiz said.

“It’s very sad for us. Perhaps she had some relationship and felt that she was not a victim, but we know that she really is.”

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Acting on information from the girl’s foster sisters, Orlando police searched Bosch’s home in October. Although they did not find the girl, they noted in a report that Bosch “appeared to be nervous”.

With the girl still missing in February, US Marshals placed Bosch and his wife under surveillance.

In one recorded phone call, Bosch said: “Now that they know that she isn’t in the Philippines, they will be looking harder here.”

Investigators determined the victim was in “possible grave danger” so they arrested Bosch, who then told Marshals they’d find the girl in a Tampa apartment.

After locating the girl, the owner of the apartment complex told investigators that Bosch paid cash for the apartment and visited the girl on weekends.

He’s currently behind bars in Seminole County facing federal charges and has been refused bail.

He’s also charged in Osceola County for interfering with custody by taking the girl from foster care.