A 12-year-old girl was allegedly abducted from a sleepover in Lillington, North Carolina, and taken into the woods before a motorist discovered her. The incident occurred Sunday when the girl was staying at a neighbor's home.
Authorities allege that Daniel Gear, 38, woke the girl and forced her into his truck. They then drove towards a wooded area where he made her exit the vehicle. The girl reportedly escaped Gear when he parked his truck near an Erwin Department of Motor Vehicles office, approximately 11 miles from Lillington. The DMV office was closed on Sunday, according to its listings.
Motorist Jennifer Maxwell reported seeing the girl emerge from the woods along U.S. Highway 421. Maxwell described the girl as shoeless and covered in scratches. "She kind of just dropped in the ditch and was just crying hysterically," Maxwell told WRAL. The girl informed Maxwell that she had been kidnapped.
According to Maxwell, the girl stated that Gear had been pushing and grabbing her and that they had been walking for a couple of hours. Her legs were covered in scratches, consistent with moving through thick brush or briars.
Gear was arrested around 8:15 p.m. on Sunday following a search that involved drones and K9 units. He was reportedly warned that he was armed and dangerous. Gear faces charges of first-degree kidnapping and assault. His bond has been set at $2.5 million, and his next court date is scheduled for September 1.
Neighbors described Gear as someone who largely kept to himself and worked from home, indicating they did not know him well.