Man Approaches Young Siblings Near Main Line School & Asks Them to Come to ‘Cabin in the Woods:' Police

A Main Line man with autism faces luring charges after police said he asked three siblings if they had ever been a “cabin in the woods.”

Daniel Lee, 26, began to speak with a 10-year-old girl, 9-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl as they rode their bikes along Arbordale Road near W Wayne Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania late Wednesday afternoon and told the children that he planned to go to an abandoned house deep in the woods, according to a criminal complaint from Radnor Township Police.

The man followed the children for a little bit before walking off into the woods behind nearby Wayne Elementary School, the eldest girl told investigators. About 20 minutes later reappeared and began to speak to the same three children as they played on the school playground, police said.

“There was concern that he could be trying to lure these children away from the school,” said Radnor police Lt. Andy Block.

The children’s mother showed up and saw the man wearing black and carrying a backpack talking to her children and asked her children what he told them, said investigators. She then called 911 and left the immediate area with her children.

Officers arrived around 6:30 p.m. to find the mother, her children nearby and then picked up Lee walking near the school, said police. The eldest girl identified Lee as the man who scared her when he asked about going to a “cabin in the woods” and also asked questions about the children’s teachers.

The girl’s younger siblings also mentioned the “cabin in the woods” conversation and the boy difficulty said Lee “scares the hell out of him,” said the criminal complaint.

Lee, who works part-time at a movie theater, told investigators that he knew it was wrong for an adult to approach children who don’t know him. Lee also told investigators that he spoke to the kids – who he thought were under 10 years old – about an abandoned house in the woods. Investigators don’t believe the abandoned property actually exists.

“It was more of an insinuation,” said Det. TJ Schreiber.

Investigators said they believe Lee knows between right and wrong and that he is a high school graduate.

Lee's parents told NBC10 that their son has autism and often interacts with children.

Schreiber said that Lee was previously investigated for talking to kids about leaves back in 2011 but that no charges came from that case.

A judge sent Lee – who faces three counts each of luring, corruption of minors and harassment – to county jail in lieu of 10 percent of $100,000 bail. Lee also must undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Police asked that anyone else who might have come in contact with Lee to call them at 610-688-0503.