Rutherford County man charged for connection to TN AMBER Alert involving 7-year-old girl

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) – A Rutherford County man has been arrested for his connection to the case of a missing girl who was later found safe in Texas after a dayslong search, officials said.

On Sunday, March 10, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced that Iris Crum, 7, had been found safe in Texas after she was last seen in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 1.

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Authorities issued an Endangered Child Alert for the seven-year-old on Saturday, March 2 and later upgraded it to an AMBER Alert on Friday, March 8 after “growing concern about her well-being.”

Iris was believed to be in the company of her non-custodial mother, 30-year-old Khaila Czereda, according to investigators.

After Iris was found, the TBI reported Khaila was taken into custody on charges of felony child abduction and custodial interference.

Detective Sgt. Joseph Duncan with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) shared a photo of Iris after she was found, stating that she “smiled after being located safely Sunday in League City, Texas.”

According to the RCSO, deputies interviewed Khaila’s husband — identified as Ethan Czereda — on Saturday, March 9.

“We used investigative leads to gain information Iris was at a home in Texas,” Duncan said. “The Texas Rangers and police there apprehended Khaila and returned Iris to safety.”

Investigators said Ethan, 33, of Fall Parkway near Walter Hill, was charged with felony aggravated kidnapping, accessory after the fact and false report/information to officers.

He is being held on a $75,000 bond at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and is expected to appear in General Session Court on May 13.

Officials expressed their thanks to law enforcement and everyone who called in tips that helped detectives locate Iris.

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“It was a team effort between TBI, the Sheriff’s Office, Texas officers and partner law enforcement agencies across the country,” Duncan said. “We worked a lot of hours but we have her safe.”

No other information was immediately released.

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