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On February 26, 2025, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were requested by the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a child abduction case. The 15-year-old juvenile from Spring Lake was abducted in the early morning of February 25, 2025 and quickly reported missing by her family. As a result, an Amber Alert was issued.

Using electronic and other advanced surveillance techniques, CAT agents gathered information indicating that the victim had been transported to Kitty Hawk and Virginia Beach, Va. by two suspects, according to an SBI news release.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 27, Dare County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team for the service of a search warrant in the area of Poor Ridge Road in Kitty Hawk, stated a Currituck County Sheriff’s Office news release.

At approximately 6 a.m., the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team executed the search warrant in the area of Poor Ridge Rd. in Kitty Hawk, which ended with Austyn Cole being taken into custody without incident. The minor was not located during the execution of the search warrant, stated the CCSO release.

“Following the execution of the search warrant, further investigation led to additional Information in reference to a second suspect, Elihue Martin Mahler, 31, of Virgina Beach, VA who, had arrest warrants on file out of Virginia for his part in the Kidnapping and Trafficking. It was determined that Elihue Mahler would be driving to the area of Poor Ridge Rd. When the vehicle entered the area, the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team executed a vehicle takedown. The vehicle takedown resulted in Elihue Mahler being taken into custody without incident and the minor being safely recovered,” stated the CCSO release.

Bonds for $1.5 million for Mahler and $1 million for Cole were issued.

“This was a positive outcome due to the teamwork of all the agencies involved and the local partnership with the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Kitty Hawk Police, Virginia Beach Police, SBI and the FBI,” stated CCSO.

Austyn Lee Cole, 23, of Kitty Hawk, and Elihue Martin Mahler, 31, of Virginia Beach, Va., were arrested without incident. Both are charged with felony human trafficking of a child victim; felony kidnapping; felony conspiracy to kidnap; and felony conspiracy, human trafficking.

Both men are currently being housed in the Harnett County Jail and where scheduled to have their first court appearance Friday morning.  This case is currently under further investigation by the SBI, FBI and the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, stated the SBI release.

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