By Associated Press - Friday, April 11, 2014

DETROIT (AP) - A judge has declared a mistrial after a Detroit-area jury couldn’t reach a verdict in the case of a 37-year-old man accused of having sexual contact with a girl who ran away with him.

The Wayne County prosecutor’s office says it plans to put Robert Messer on trial again on sex charges. A mistrial was declared Friday.

Messer, who lives in the Northville area, disappeared with a 15-year-old girl for a few days in October. They were found in a Washtenaw County field.



Police say they left notes expressing their love for each other. The girl’s mother testified last year that Messer was a family friend whom they met at church.

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.