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

[PommyMommy]

Harnett County authorities release more details as search for endangered teen girl continues | CBS 17
[...]

Kealy Merritt, 14, was last seen along the 700 block of Ammons Road in Dunn. She left the area on a black mountain bike that has pink spokes, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

• She was wearing a grey, puffy jacket and a black toboggan.
• Deputies, emergency management, and several volunteers have been searching.
• A NC State Highway Patrol helicopter and K-9s have been used in the search.

She “has a history of suicidal ideations and does not have her medication,” authorities said Monday. “She has threatened self-harm in the past and does have a history of running away and mental health issues.”

Anyone with information should call Investigator J. Gardner at 910-893-0149 or by email at [email protected].

NCDPS - Silver Alert - Active Alerts

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 25, 2020
Bike of missing Harnett County teen found near woods off I-95 | CBS 17
[...]

The sheriff’s office said her bike was found early Thursday morning on I-95 just south of exit 70 near the woods.

A passerby saw the story on the news and reported the bike to law enforcement, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies searched the area but did not find anything. A silver alert has been issued for Kaely, the sheriff’s office said.

[...]

 

[indicolite22]

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

Interesting comment at: Keep Wayne Coats Sheriff

Sheriff Ennis W. Wright: Cumberland County NC
Kealy Merritt is missing from Harnett County but she may be in Godwin.

 

[OldCop]

Info about the area where her bike was found:
I-95 NORTH CAROLINA EXIT 70

2020-12-26 Roadnow
see also previous/next exit: ~4.27 mi to Exit 65 --- Exit 70 --- ~1.22 mi to Exit 71

Exit 70, Exit to: SR 1811. There are 27 gas stations, 57 restaurants, and 7 hotels/motels near this exit. See details below.

Exit 70 is also close to cities: Dunn, NC (5.81 mi ); Falcon, NC (7.40 mi ); Godwin, NC(9.32 mi ). Exit 70 can reach interstate highways: I-95 (0.00 mi ); I-40 (18.05 mi ); I-440NC (55.74 mi ). It is also close to local highways: US 301 NC (0.83 mi ); US 421 NC (4.14 mi ); NC 82 (4.33 mi ).

Exit 70 traffic can be found from here .

There must be plenty of video footage in this area.

ETA After looking at Google maps, I see that most of these businesses are actually closer to the exits further north on I 95.

 

[OldCop]

I wish we knew if the bike was found on the north side or the south side of Exit 70. There is a truck stop on the north side of this exit which always concerns me.

 

[indicolite22]

I wish we knew if the bike was found on the north side or the south side of Exit 70. There is a truck stop on the north side of this exit which always concerns me.

The article @PommyMommy posted says "on I-95 just south of exit 70 near the woods".

 

[OldCop]

The article @PommyMommy posted says "on I-95 just south of exit 70 near the woods".

Yes, but you could be just south of Exit 70 and still be on the NB side of I95.
If you look at the map I have attached, there is a small stand of trees on the SB side of I95 but there is a much larger group of trees which I would be more likely to refer to as a “woods” on the NB side of I95, just south of Exit 70.

 

[PommyMommy]

Yes, but you could be just south of Exit 70 and still be on the NB side of I95.
If you look at the map I have attached there is a small stand of trees on the SB side of I95 but there is a much larger group of trees which I would be more likely to refer to as a “woods” on the NB side of I95, just south of Exit 70.

I was just looking at that. Definitely looks more woodsy on the northbound side. Here's a street view of exit 70 NB: I-95 - Google Maps

Possible route from 700 Ammons: 700 Ammons Rd, Dunn, NC 28334 to I-95, Dunn, NC 28334 - Google Maps

 

[OldCop]

I was just looking at that. Definitely looks more woodsy on the northbound side. Here's a street view of exit 70 NB: I-95 - Google Maps

Possible route from 700 Ammons: 700 Ammons Rd, Dunn, NC 28334 to I-95, Dunn, NC 28334 - Google Maps

Ha! Great minds think alike. I did the exact same thing.

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 24, 2020
Update: Bicycle Belonging To Missing Girl Found Next To Interstate 95 – JoCo Report
UPDATE 4:00PM – The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office says the bicycle belonging to missing Kealy Merritt was found this morning in the woodline on Interstate 95 just south of Exit 70. Drones and ground search parties were deployed today without success.

DEC 21, updated DEC 24, 2020
Harnett County missing teen's bike found in woods off I-95 :: WRAL.com
Her mountain bike was found Christmas Eve morning on Interstate 95 South off Exit 70 in the woods, officials said.

 

[OldCop]

DEC 24, 2020
Update: Bicycle Belonging To Missing Girl Found Next To Interstate 95 – JoCo Report
UPDATE 4:00PM – The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office says the bicycle belonging to missing Kealy Merritt was found this morning in the woodline on Interstate 95 just south of Exit 70. Drones and ground search parties were deployed today without success.

DEC 21, updated DEC 24, 2020
Harnett County missing teen's bike found in woods off I-95 :: WRAL.com
Her mountain bike was found Christmas Eve morning on Interstate 95 South off Exit 70 in the woods, officials said.

The WRAL report says it was on i95 south off Exit 70 in the woods. Did they mean “of” instead of “off”? I’m still not sure. It does make a difference. However, it was spotted by a passing motorist so I would agree with the first article that identified the location as the woodline as opposed to in the woods.
I don’t know why I’m being nitpicky about this. I just theorize better if I can visualize things.

 

[PommyMommy]

The WRAL report says it was on i95 south off Exit 70 in the woods. Did they mean “of” instead of “off”? I’m still not sure. It does make a difference. However, it was spotted by a passing motorist so I would agree with the first article that identified the location as the woodline as opposed to in the woods.
I don’t know why I’m being nitpicky about this. I just theorize better if I can visualize things.

You're not being nitpicky. I understand exactly what you mean. I was just searching for anything that had a more precise location but I didn't find it. MOO

 

[MimosaMornings]

Dunn, 28334 Crime Rates and Crime Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

“The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Dunn is 1 in 29. Based on FBI crime data, Dunn is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to North Carolina, Dunn has a crime rate that is higher than 82% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.”

Dunn is not far from Fayetteville/Fort Bragg.
Lumberton is further south.

I’ve stayed at the Hampton Inn in Dunn several times but there’s not much there. Have to be very careful with the exits off of I-95 in that part of NC. JMO

 

[OldCop]

I am very surprised that there have not been more updates on this beautiful young lady. It says she’s on meds, but doesn’t have them with her. It says she ran away. It also says she has expressed “suicidal ideations”.
There are few other details and she has been gone 6 days. To find her bike off a major highway like I95 is very concerning. Did she go down the on ramp and begin hitch hiking?
After following another “disappeared on a bike ride” case for over 7 months, (Suzanne Morphew), I hate to think we’ll still be wondering what happened to Kealy Merritt come next summer.

 

[indicolite22]

Approved info from MISSING TEEN KEALY MERRITT: Kealy doesn't own a phone. A public search is being organized by her aunt for tomorrow.

 

[10ofRods]

I hope LE carefully interview her treating physician(s).

Could there be family that Kealy might be trying to visit? The FB page makes me think that's possible.

 

[Lusitana]

Oh no, this poor kid. It always breaks my heart when I see kids this young suffering so much.

I hope she's okay and that they are able to find her and get her some help.

 

[Mistree]

I’m very worried for this girl. On accident and while thumbing through the socials for more info it appears this isn’t her first time leaving.

 

[Lusitana]

Worried about her too. I hope she’s okay.

 

[kelsie]

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