Found Safe NC - Kealy Merritt, 14, Dunn, 20 Dec 2020 *Endangered, bike found near woods*

[PommyMommy]

I've seen weird SM rumors that obviously I can't go into here, but I really hope this girl was not abducted, either. She was riding her bike on a major highway and she looks younger than 14. Very scary

Do we actually know that she was riding her bike on the highway, though? I know it was found there but I haven't seen any reports that have placed her there. Yet, anyway... MOO

 

[kelsie]

Do we actually know that she was riding her bike on the highway, though? I know it was found there but I haven't seen any reports that have placed her there. Yet, anyway... MOO

Oh, sorry, I know her aunt has said it but maybe it's not in MSM.

 

[insearchoflight]

This is so tragic. No matter what happened, with how cold it gets there at night she can’t be safe out there in the elements. How heartbreaking

 

[MimosaMornings]

I hope she was not riding her bicycle on the shoulder of I-95.
Lot of truck traffic plus drug and other illegal traffic along I-95. Not a safe place.
JMO

 

[Curious_in_NC]

I hope she was not riding her bicycle on the shoulder side of I-95.
Lot of truck traffic plus drug and other illegal traffic along I-95. Not a safe place.
JMO

I really doubt she was riding on I-95. There are a couple of parallel roads that seem more probable. As a cyclist, I can't say that any routes she might have taken to get there really look that safe either, but my judgement is not the same as a troubled 14 yo girl.

I can also attest that as a motorist, I-95 in that stretch between I-40 and SC is one of the least pleasant drives in the state, especially during holidays, because there are so many people driving day long trips between Northeast cities and SC/GA/FL, mixed in with heavy truck traffic.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

My heart goes out to her and hope she is found safe very soon.

 

[ClaireNC]

I really doubt she was riding on I-95. There are a couple of parallel roads that seem more probable. As a cyclist, I can't say that any routes she might have taken to get there really look that safe either, but my judgement is not the same as a troubled 14 yo girl.

I can also attest that as a motorist, I-95 in that stretch between I-40 and SC is one of the least pleasant drives in the state, especially during holidays, because there are so many people driving day long trips between Northeast cities and SC/GA/FL, mixed in with heavy truck traffic.

Agreed. It would be very odd to see someone on the bike along I-95. People would remember seeing her and may have even alerted LE.

Also noted that the family is searching in Godwin, which is about 5 miles from where the bike was found. Wonder why?

 

[PommyMommy]

Agreed. It would be very odd to see someone on the bike along I-95. People would remember seeing her and may have even alerted LE.

Also noted that the family is searching in Godwin, which is about 5 miles from where the bike was found. Wonder why?

Nice to see you, ClaireNC.

BBM In her Dec 25 video at the 9:44 minute mark, Kealy's aunt basically says the same thing, "There's no way a 14-year-old was on her bike on 95 and nobody seen it." MISSING TEEN KEALY MERRITT

She also says in her Dec 24 post that Kealy left her house on her bike and has not been seen since. MISSING TEEN KEALY MERRITT If there has been a sighting on I-95 or anywhere else, I can't find it. MOO

 

[indicolite22]

Many questions: Where did she go when she previously ran away? How long before she was found? Did it ever happen in winter? Is it possible that someone picked her up? Could she have arranged it beforehand, despite having no cell phone? Would she go into a stranger's car? IF she left her bike and walked away, why pick an area near the highway?

 

[Acorunadepor]

I think she took the 301 due south, than took a left on Bud Hawkins Rd. And took that road across the I-95. In the distance you can see the woods. Google Maps

Or she stayed on the west side, and left her bike there near the tree line. There is also a pond on that side just before you take a left on Bud Hawkins Rd. Google Maps

 

[Curious_in_NC]

Nice to see you, ClaireNC.

BBM In her Dec 25 video at the 9:44 minute mark, Kealy's aunt basically says the same thing, "There's no way a 14-year-old was on her bike on 95 and nobody seen it." MISSING TEEN KEALY MERRITT

She also says in her Dec 24 post that Kealy left her house on her bike and has not been seen since. MISSING TEEN KEALY MERRITT If there has been a sighting on I-95 or anywhere else, I can't find it. MOO

Cycling on interstates is illegal in nearly all the eastern US states. I can think of only one or two times I've ever seen someone doing it. Apparently in parts of the west, it's allowed in several areas where there are no alternate routes.

 

[OldCop]

I don’t think she was riding her bike on I95. However, her bike was found somewhere just south of the Bud Hawkins Exit on I95. Why was it there and who put it there? If she was running away, she may have ridden to that Exit as @Acorunadepor stated above, dropped the bike and continued down the ramp on foot to hitchhike.
Also, there is a truck stop on Bud Hawkins just north of the exit which could be a dangerous place for a young girl looking to get away.

 

[TGIRecovered]

I just don't think that a girl who voluntarily walked away would leave her bike in plain sight right beside a busy exit ramp. It feels like a red herring to me. MOO

 

[kelsie]

Nice to see you, ClaireNC.

BBM In her Dec 25 video at the 9:44 minute mark, Kealy's aunt basically says the same thing, "There's no way a 14-year-old was on her bike on 95 and nobody seen it." MISSING TEEN KEALY MERRITT

Yeah but she's saying like that's definitely what occurred so someone had to have seen Kealy! You know what I mean?

 

[Acorunadepor]

I just don't think that a girl who voluntarily walked away would leave her bike in plain sight right beside a busy exit ramp. It feels like a red herring to me. MOO

On the other hand it was south of the exit as LE mentioned. On both sides (east and west of the I-95) there are areas with tree lines. So I also think it doesn't have to be close to the exit.

The vague description LE gives does not help. Because near the woods could also mean the Mingo Swamp, which is south-east of the exit.

 

[KatzEye]

Bringing part of indicolite22's post forward to highlight the FB group for Kealy :

Dedicated fb group, with her aunt ST as admin:
MISSING TEEN KEALY MERRITT

Kealy's mom, CT, is posting some there and replying to a general question about bike location.

There's also a YT video by Stephen Barcelo, which I won't link as it's not MSM or LE. Not much info there, but an interesting comment, fwiw.

 

[PommyMommy]

Bringing part of indicolite22's post forward to highlight the FB group for Kealy :

Kealy's mom, CT, is posting some there and replying to a general question about bike location.

There's also a YT video by Stephen Barcelo, which I won't link as it's not MSM or LE. Not much info there, but an interesting comment, fwiw.

Thank you! I had suspected the bike was on the NB side where it appears more wooded but this changed my mind.

I didn't find the YouTube video. Has it been deleted? MOO

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

A reminder that sleuthing the social media of family or anyone else other than a victim or an officially named POI or suspect is absolutely not allowed and is a distinct violation of Websleuths social media rules.

Also, comments by anyone other than an Admin of an approved Missing Person support page are not allowed to be discussed.

Please read the follow The Rules, including Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, etc

 

[OldCop]

Thank you! I had suspected the bike was on the NB side where it appears more wooded but this changed my mind.

I didn't find the YouTube video. Has it been deleted? MOO

I am now a little confused myself. Kealy’s Mom, CT, has posted on the Search for Kealy Merritt FB page, “She was headed south on 95 and her bike was found near the Falcon/Godwin exit.”
Search For Kealy Merritt

ETA This page is run by Kealy’s mom, CT. There is also a Find Kealy Merritt page run by her aunt, ST. WS Admins, I believe these are both approved? Both indicated that they thought they could spread the word farther by having two pages.

 

[OldCop]

ADMIN NOTE:

A reminder that sleuthing the social media of family or anyone else other than a victim or an officially named a POI or suspect is absolutely not allowed and is a distinct violation of Websleuths social media rules.

Also, comments by anyone other than an Admin of an approved Missing Person support page are not allowed to be discussed.

Please read the follow The Rules, including Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, etc

@Sillybilly, please see my post above. Had posted before I read this. Are both pages approved?