Harnett County deputies arrested a 38-year-old man on kidnapping and assault charges after a 12-year-old girl was found and released from a hospital. Deputies found the girl walking beside U.S. 421 and later located the accused man in a nearby wood line. Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats said deputies arrested Daniel Francis Gear, 38, Sunday night. The sheriff alleged that Gear kidnapped a 12-year-old girl from a Lillington home where she was visiting a friend.
Authorities found the girl walking beside U.S. Highway 421 and found the suspect’s vehicle nearby without him inside. Deputies later located Gear in a wood line along U.S. 421 after a public search that described him as armed and dangerous. The checked reports support the search sequence, recovery and booking, but they do not establish motive or every interaction inside the home. That distinction is important because the sheriff said the accused man had no relationship with the child, while the court process must test the evidence behind the charges.
The girl was taken to a hospital, released and was recovering with her family, according to the sheriff. Gear was charged with first-degree kidnapping and assault on a female; those charges are allegations unless established in court. Rapid public alerts can help a search but must be updated promptly when a child is safe and a suspect is in custody. A charging decision reflects probable-cause allegations, not a conviction or final account of events.
Protecting a minor’s identity and limiting unsupported detail reduces further harm during an active investigation. The principal evidentiary limit at the edition cutoff was this: Investigators had not released a detailed timeline, motive, court date or defense response. The next public records to watch are initial court proceedings and bond conditions and any additional charges or official clarification of the timeline.