A 12-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped from a sleepover in Erin, North Carolina, on August 16 was found barefoot in a ditch by a passing motorist and is now safe, authorities confirmed. The 38-year-old suspect, Daniel Francis Gear, was arrested later that day after a manhunt spanning several hours.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
On Sunday, August 16, at approximately 1:20 p.m., healthcare worker Jennifer Maxwell was driving home near US Highway 421 in Erwin when she spotted a child fleeing from a wooded area. The girl, who was barefoot and covered in scratches, fell into a ditch and was crying. Maxwell pulled over, and the girl told her she had been kidnapped. Maxwell immediately called 911 and later took the girl to the Erwin Police Station.
The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office identified Daniel Francis Gear, the uncle of the girl’s best friend, as the suspect. Gear was charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and intent to terrorize, according to court records. Investigators confirmed that Gear had allegedly taken the girl from her sleepover at his niece’s home without parental consent. The girl told authorities that Gear forced her into his truck, drove her to a wooded area, and made her walk for several hours before she escaped.
Deeper Dive & Context
The Escape and Rescue
Maxwell described the girl as severely scratched, with injuries likely caused by running through thick brush or briars. The girl’s arms and legs bore multiple scratches, and she was without shoes. Maxwell recalled the girl saying, “No, I’ve been kidnapped,” when asked if she was okay. Maxwell then drove the girl to the police station, where authorities took her statement.
Gear’s truck was later found parked behind a DMV office in Erwin, approximately 11 miles southeast of Lillington, where he lived. Investigators believe the girl escaped when Gear stopped at the DMV office, though the exact circumstances remain under review.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Gear faces multiple charges, including first-degree kidnapping, felony child abduction, and assault. According to the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, the charges stem from Gear allegedly abducting the girl with the intent to terrorize her. Court documents indicate that Gear pushed the girl to the ground and unlawfully restrained her during the incident.
The girl’s identity has not been released, and authorities have not disclosed further details about her condition or the timeline of events beyond what was reported by Maxwell and law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing, with deputies reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements.
Background and Community Response
The incident has drawn attention in the small town of Erwin, population 5,000, where residents expressed relief over the girl’s safe recovery. Maxwell, who initially stopped to assist, later shared that she was involved in a minor car accident shortly after helping the girl. She was treated at a local hospital, where she reportedly met the girl’s parents.
Local law enforcement, including the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office and Erwin Police Department, conducted a seven-hour manhunt using drones and K-9 units before locating Gear. The search was concentrated in wooded areas near Highway 421, where the girl was found.
Ongoing Investigations
Authorities have not provided additional details about the girl’s whereabouts during her captivity or the specific route Gear took after leaving the sleepover. The case is being handled by the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, with support from state investigators. No further arrests have been announced, and the investigation is ongoing.