News 12 @ 11 o'clock -- September 6, 2008

NORTH AUGUSTA, SC---As William Long watches his ten year old daughter play, her safety on the playground isn't the only thing that's important, it's on the internet too.

"Through my computer I can monitor what she's on while I'm on the computer even though she's on the net as well, " said William.

And who's on the other side of the computer is never far from Williams' mind.

"Most of the time children don't know they're not supposed to give out that stuff out. They just in innocence give it out and not realize the person's there to hurt them, " said William.

And investigators believe that may have been the case with 17 year old Latasha Hilliard. She went missing last Monday after calling her mom to say someone was following her..when she didn't come home, her parents knew something was wrong.

"She's never been away from the house. She gets homesick when she goes to the beach without her mama, " said Allen Clark, Latasha's father.

It was at the Ryan's on Whiskey Road in Aiken where investigators say they found the 17 year old's red Jeep Grand Cherokee with the doors unlocked and the keys still inside.

Deputies say they later discovered Hilliard was chatting with this man 31 year old Brian Bennett over Myspace. Days later the teen was able to make a call from a cellphone and that's when Missouri police tracked the phone to a gas station where they found Hilliard and Bennett.

Investigators now know Hilliard did agree to meet with Bennett, but she had no idea he planned to kidnap her.

"Watch your kids on this internet, don't let them be on the internet, keep them off of it, " said Allen Clark.

A warning that William can't agree with more.

"Supervision is the best thing to keep them safe, " said William.

A reminder that teens and parents can't just hear; but one they also must practice.

Edgefield investigators say they plan to talk with Hilliard this weekend and the FBI may take over the case because the kidnapping happened across several state lines. If that happens, Bennett could face federal charges.