Officials Seek Runaway Girl Who May Be With Internet Companion

State and federal officials searched Tuesday for a 13-year-old Panorama City girl thought to be traveling to North Carolina with a man she met on the Internet.

Michael Allan Hulst, 25, drove from his home in Jacksonville, N.C., to pick up Cheyenne Simmons and bring her back to marry him or live with him, authorities said.

“We don’t believe he means to do her harm,” FBI spokeswoman Cheryl Mimura said.

The girl had been communicating with Hulst in secret by telephone and computer for several months, Mimura said. She was last seen by her guardian about 1 a.m. Monday.

Hulst, who is wanted on suspicion of transporting a minor across state lines, is white, 6 feet, 175 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has a lazy right eye and is missing his left hand. The girl is white, 5-foot-6, 155 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.

Hulst was driving a 1985 white Chevrolet van with North Carolina license plate MSY1791. A telephone number is painted in green on one or both of the front doors, authorities said. The van was last seen Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Anyone who may see Hulst, Cheyenne or the van should call the FBI at (310) 477-6565.