Harnett County, N.C. — A Harnett County man is facing kidnapping charges after authorities say he took a 12-year-old girl from a sleepover and drove her to a wooded area, according to Sheriff Wayne Coats and multiple local news reports.
Deputies identified the suspect as 38-year-old Daniel Francis Gear. According to reporting by WRAL, Gear is related to the family hosting the sleepover — his niece and the young victim are described by neighbors as friends who live next door to one another in Lillington.
A passing driver, identified as Jennifer Maxwell, told she was traveling on U.S. Highway 421 on Sunday afternoon when she saw the girl come out of the woods near the roadway. Maxwell said she stopped and drove the child to the Erwin Police Department, where officers arranged for further assistance, and later showed deputies the location where she had found her.
Investigators say Gear woke the girl during the sleepover, told her to get into his truck, and drove her to a wooded area before she managed to get away and run toward the highway. Authorities located Gear’s vehicle in the area but did not find him at the scene during the initial search.
The girl was taken to a hospital for evaluation and has since been released to recover with her family, officials said.
Gear has been charged with first-degree kidnapping and assault on a female. He is currently held at the Harnett County Jail on a $2.5 million bond. His next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 1.