HARNETT COUNTY, N.C. – A local mother of three and god‑mother to several children became a lifesaver on Sunday when she stopped her car on U.S. Highway 421 after spotting a frightened girl emerging from the woods.

Jennifer Maxwell, a resident of the area near the lawyer’s office on the highway, said she was approaching the DMV when the child ran out of the trees and fell into a ditch, sobbing. ‘She just dropped in the ditch and was crying hysterically,’ Maxwell recalled.

Maxwell slowed her vehicle, checked her rear‑view mirror for other drivers, and when no one stopped, she turned her car around and approached the girl. Rolling down her window, she asked, ‘Baby, are you okay?’ The child answered, ‘No, I’ve been kidnapped.’

After confirming the girl’s distress, Maxwell helped her into her own car and immediately called 911. The child was wearing a large T‑shirt and shorts, had no shoes, and was covered in scratch marks, likely from brambles or brush.

According to the girl, she had spent the night at a friend’s house next door when an alleged suspect, Daniel Gear, woke her, forced her into his truck, and drove to a wooded area where he made her exit the vehicle. The girl said Gear then forced her to walk for several hours, pushing and grabbing her shoulder.

Maxwell drove the child to the Erwin Police Department, where deputies took the girl into protective custody and began an investigation. Maxwell also directed officers to the location where she had found the child.

Shortly after leaving the police station, Maxwell was involved in a minor car accident and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. While at the hospital she was able to see the rescued girl again, offering a brief farewell and prayers for her recovery.

‘I just thank God that I was there,’ Maxwell said. ‘If it had been my daughter, I’d want someone to be there for her too.’

The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Daniel Gear was taken into custody Sunday night and charged with first‑degree kidnapping and assault on a female.

This incident underscores the importance of vigilant citizens and swift action in protecting vulnerable children. Local law‑enforcement officials praised Maxwell’s quick thinking and urged community members to remain alert and report suspicious activity.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and are working with the victim’s family to ensure her safety and well‑being.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.