A 12-year-old North Carolina girl, allegedly kidnapped from a sleepover, was discovered by a motorist on Sunday afternoon after she emerged from a wooded area near U.S. Highway 421 in Erwin. The child appeared distressed, with scratches on her body and no shoes.
Jennifer Maxwell, a healthcare provider, was driving home around 1:20 p.m. when she saw the girl emerge from the woods, descend an embankment, and fall into a ditch. Maxwell reported that the girl was "very scratched up, like her legs had lines all over them," and that her arms also bore scratches. The girl told Maxwell, "No, I've been kidnapped."
Máxwell assisted the child into her vehicle and contacted 911. She then guided authorities to the location where she found the girl. The alleged kidnapper's truck was found nearby, parked behind a DMV office.
The girl stated she had been sleeping over at a friend's home when Daniel Francis Gear, 38, the friend's uncle, woke her up and compelled her to go outside. She alleged that Gear drove her into the woods and forced her to walk for hours.
Gear was apprehended by law enforcement on Sunday around 8:15 p.m. following a seven-hour manhunt that utilized drones and K-9 units. He has been charged with first-degree kidnapping and assault. Court records indicate Gear is 5-foot-9 and weighs 240 pounds. He is being held at the Harnett County Detention Center on a $2.5 million secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 1.
Neighbors described Gear as reclusive, with one stating he primarily worked from home and was not well-known in the community. They noted that the girl often visited the home to play with Gear's niece.