Rifqa Bary
Rifqa Bary

Fla. Pastor Under Investigation In Convert Case

Tuesday,  September 22, 2009 7:15 AM

Updated: Tuesday,  September 22, 2009 7:48 AM

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Florida judge said Monday that a teenage girl who ran away from her New Albany home over religious beliefs won't immediately be returned to her parents.

The judge ruled that she will stay in Orlando and can have no contact with the Christian pastor's family that she was staying with.

Rifqa Bary, 17, claimed that she was threatened by her father after converting from Islam to Christianity, according to court documents unsealed last week.

She fled to Florida and was found living with Pastor Blake Lorenz and his family.  Bary apparently met Lorenz over the Internet, 10TV News reported.

After being located in Orlando, Fla., Bary said that she feared her father would kill her because she changed religions.

Court documents said an investigation conducted by Florida authorities found no credible threats of violence against Bary, 10TV News reported.

Bary's parents are waiting for judges in Florida and Ohio to determine who has jurisdiction over the case.  An Ohio judge has set a hearing for later this month.

10TV has learned that Lorenz and his family are under criminal investigation for possibly helping Bary run flee Ohio.

A spokesman for the Bary family said custody laws in Ohio are clear.

"Parents have custody of their child," said spokesman Omar Tarazi.  "If some third party takes them, or helps them to go across state lines, there's a felony there."

Stay with 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

Previous Stories:

September 21, 2009: Religious Runaway To Stay In Florida For Now
September 14, 2009:  Fla. Authorities: No Evidence Runaway Convert Is In Danger
September 11, 2009: Strickland: Handle Runaway Convert Case In Ohio
September 3, 2009: Judge Sealed Police Report For Runaway Convert
September 2, 2009:   Islamic Center Denies Accusations In Convert Case
September 1, 2009:  New Allegations Surface In Runaway Convert Case
August 21, 2009: Runaway Convert To Remain In Fla.
August 12, 2009: Father Denies Threatening Daughter Over Religious Conversion
August 11, 2009: Teen Says Father Will Kill Her Over Religious Conversion
August 7, 2009: Missing Teen Found Safe In Fla.
July 31, 2009: After Nearly 2 Weeks, New Albany Teen Still Missing

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