Authorities discover Sampson lady following Amber Alert; father in custody :: WRAL.com
Clinton, NC – Sampson County authorities Tuesday night located a 10-year-old girl who was the focus of a statewide Amber Alert.
Breanne Marie Jones was unharmed, the authorities said.
Sampson County sheriff Jimmy Thornton said the county Department of Social Services placed Breanne and her 8-year-old brother into their grandmother’s care a few days ago. Jonathan Lewis Jones, the children’s father, went to a house outside Turkey Monday night and took the girl away, the sheriff said.
“The father shows up last night, takes the daughter and leaves,” said Thornton. “He has two children, a son and a daughter, but the daughter was the only one of the two who went with him.”
Authorities didn’t begin investigating the case until Tuesday morning as there were some questions about who had legal guardianship over Breanne, he said.
Jones, 38, and Christina Renee Edge, 32, were taken into custody.
The red 2004 Chevrolet Impala that authorities said Jones was using was found on NC Highway 403 outside Clinton around 5 p.m. after someone called authorities about a suspicious vehicle. When MPs checked the vehicle, people in the house jumped out and ran away, Thornton said.
Matthew Joyner, who lives near the place where the three were found, said a man in a truck with a gun was chasing the red Chevrolet Impala and inside was the 10-year-old girl.
“I’m like ‘man, what are you doing in my yard with a gun?’ He said, “Hey, you have the little girl,” said Joyner.
“When I saw they had this little girl, I told my wife to call 911,” Joyner said. “I saw the guy snatch the little girl out and they’re running through the woods.”
Sniffer dogs and drones were used to assist in the search, and Jones, Edge, and the girl were found in the woods about 250 to 300 meters away, Thornton said.
“He was a bit grumpy,” said the sheriff of Jones.
Jones was charged with property violation and child molestation and was held in Sampson County Jail on $ 10,000 bail. Edge was charged with parole violation. Authorities said more fees are possible in this case.
Jones has a 2000 criminal record that, according to the State Department of Public Safety, includes convictions for burglary and intrusion, forwarding threats, violating a security order, resisting arrest, driving disorder, and drug crime.
“”[It] feels really good that she is safe, “Joyner said of Breanne.
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