By Dave Franzman
KCRG-TV9 News

(Cedar Rapids – KCRG) -- The man in custody for the disappearance of Jetseta Gage was no stranger to the family. In fact, the girl's mother called Roger Bentley a family friend.

Trena Gage told TV9 that she had known Roger Bentley for about five years. What she didn't know was he's listed on Iowa’s registry of sex offenders.

”I went house to house in the neighborhood just to find her, maybe she went next door or something, you know.”

Trena Gage says she wasn't home when her daughter disappeared. Her mother, Teresa Gage, was watching all the children while Trena attended a night class. The grandmother thought Jetseta had gone to bed. But when she checked and found her missing another child told her Jetsetta had left. “My grandson said when I was looking for Jetseta she's in the car with Roger. That's what he said.”

Trena Gage said she's known Roger Bentley about five years. She once dated the Brandon man's brother years before. What she said she didn't know was that Roger Bentley was a registered sex offender. Bentley was convicted in 1994 of lascivious acts with a child.

Gage only knew that Roger Bentley did her favors and she considered him a friend. “He just came over to my house - helped me work on my cars. I don't have the money, I’m a single parent, a full time student working full time.”

Trena gage spoke with TV9 before word of a body being found in Johnson County.

The Gages say they worried a bit about ten-year-old Jetsetta being too trusting around strangers. But before last night, they didn't worry about a family friend.

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