Free Republic

Investigators have recovered a body in a creek believed to be 3-year-old Mariah Woods, officials said Saturday. District Attorney Ernie Lee told reporters that divers recovered the body in neighboring Pender County, about 25 miles from Mariah's home in Jacksonville. He added that they were awaiting a medical examiner's report to determine the official cause of death. The body was found hours after Earl Kimrey, the live-in boyfriend of Mariah's mother, was arrested and held on $1 million bond. He is charged with concealing of death, obstruction of justice, second-degree burglary, felony larceny and possession of stolen property. Prosecutors are...

Authorities in North Carolina say they have arrested a suspect in connection with the disappearance of 3-year-old Mariah Woods, a girl whom they believe is probably dead. Earl Kimrey, 32, believed to be the boyfriend of the child's mother, was apprehended Friday, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department and FBI announced early Saturday. The Jacksonville, N.C., girl went missing late Saturday, prompting her father, Alex Woods, to question his ex-wife’s statement about the girl's whereabouts.

Onslow County, N.C. (WLOS) — Onslow County Sheriff Hans Miller is asking local residents who want to help in the search for a missing 3-year-old girl to check their own property. A statewide Amber Alert was issued for Mariah Woods after she was reported missing from her home outside of Jacksonville early Monday morning. Sheriff Miller said in a press conference Wednesday that property owners should look around their homes for any clues that might help find Mariah Woods. The FBI joined the search Tuesday. Mariah's biological father is questioning the reporting kidnapping, saying it's hard to believe no one...