A 14-year-old Alabama girl reported missing from her Lee County home was found safe in Kentucky, and the man she was with is now behind bars.

On Tuesday, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the teen left her Phenix City home during the early-morning hours and was believed to be with a man with whom she had been communicating on social media.

Family members told investigators the girl had been chatting online with a man named Arnold Carpenter. His profile picture appeared to be a teen boy.

On Wednesday, Lee County sheriff’s investigators, with the help of the girl’s family members, were able to locate the girl in Richmond, Kentucky at a fast-food restaurant.

Richmond police and FBI agents were able to take the girl into custody, along with Glendon Carpenter, who is actually 43 years old.

“The juvenile was recovered and now safe,’’ authorities said.

Carpenter is charged with kidnapping, second-degree rape, and first-degree sex abuse. He is being held without bond in Kentucky and is expected to be extradited to Alabama to face additional charges.

The teen girl is in the custody of the Kentucky Department of Human Resources.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).