| May 14,
2002 |
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| Arrests
Made in Reported Child Snatching |
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Warrants have been issued
against several persons accused of forcefully entering a home on March 13th and
taking a three-year-old child.
One of the persons charged is the child's
mother, 23-year-old Angel Lynn Maltba (right), of
3131 Flat Gap Road, Valdese.
According to Burke County Sheriff's Office
Detective Aaron Carver, Jimmy Frank Peeler called |
 |
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| the Sheriff's Office during the early morning
hours of March 13th and reported a burglary and kidnaping at his home, located
at 7022 Rhoney Road. |
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| Peeler told officers six unknown men entered his
home uninvited. While some of the men restrained him to the ground, the other
men took his son, Jimmy Drew Peeler. Two relatives of Peelers were reportedly
assaulted by the unknown men. |
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| Carver said the investigation resulted in
charges being issued on Maltba for her alleged part in the burglary and
kidnaping. The kidnaping charges were related to the forcible restraint to the
occupants of Peeler's home, and not the taking of the child, since there
reportedly was no legal agreement giving custody to either parent. |
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| After following numerous leads, Carver said he
learned the identities of some of the men believed to have entered Peeler's
residence. |
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Carver charged
Timothy Ray McCracken (left), 21, of 1267
Harrison Carswell Road, Morganton with one count of second-degree kidnaping and
one count of first-degree burglary. He was arrested May 9th and jailed
under a $50,000 secured bond.
On May 10th, James Nicholas Woody
(below, left), 19, of 3909 Leger Road, Valdese
was served the same charges as McCracken and also placed under a $50,000
bond. |
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McCracken and
Woody, along with a third man, were
charged with another
burglary two months ago, according the investigators.
Kidnaping and
burglary warrants have also been issued against Angel Maltba's step-father and
mother, Ricky and Janice Prestwood. The Prestwoods' whereabouts remain unknown,
but investigators believe they are in the company of Angel Maltba and little
Jimmy Drew Peeler. |
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| Maltba, who made bond after her arrest, failed
to appear on her initial court date and warrants have been issued for her
non-compliance, Carver said. |
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| The Sheriff's Office requests anyone having
information on the whereabouts of Angel Maltba, Ricky and Janice Prestwood, or
Jimmy Drew Peeler to contact them immediately at (828) 438-5500, or
Morganton/Burke Crimestoppers at (828) 437-3333. |
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