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Missing North Carolina Girl Found Safe at West Virginia Walmart as Man Is Charged With Kidnapping

Authorities are limiting details to protect the child's privacy during the active investigation.

Overview

  • Officers responded around 5:24 p.m. Tuesday to a reported abduction at the Walmart in Moundsville, West Virginia.
  • The 11-year-old was located inside the store with an adult woman who was detained for questioning and is not considered a person of interest.
  • Information from that interview led police to Luke F. Henderson, who was arrested at his Grant Avenue residence.
  • Henderson was charged with kidnapping as local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI and West Virginia State Police, coordinated the operation.
  • Investigators briefly secured the store, used FBI data showing the child's device pinging at the site, recovered the girl safely, arranged her return to North Carolina, and said there is no ongoing public threat.