crime for the Eastern District of us-regions Michael East says he’s proud of the “interagency communication” that led investigators to the recent discovery of a us-regions mother and daughter who had been missing-persons” target=”_blank”>missing<
Marshals, along with authorities from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and local law enforcement agencies, found and safely recovered the pair, who were previous victims of abuse, on Tuesday at a home on Lemon Lane in Bunnlevel. They also recovered Weber’s second child, who was never reported missing.
“Imagine two roads that intersect in very rural farmland … and there’s probably about five or six different houses along these two … roads that intersect,” East explained, adding that “basically everybody living in that area was family or related to” Joe Smith, whom authorities believe may be associated with Weber’s and Miracle’s disappearance.
Miracle Smith (Fayetteville PD)
Smith, 59, is Miracle’s grandfather, according to East.
The ATF charged Smith with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and he was taken into custody on Tuesday.
SAN FRANCISCO NURSE WHO ‘ABRUPTLY’ LEFT JOB MID-SHIFT HASN’T BEEN SEEN SINCE
“The investigator felt that they had enough probable cause to charge Joe Smith with possession of a firearm by a felon,” East said. “And so at that point in time, that’s when they got ATF involved, and ATF took the lead in taking up charges against Mr. Smith since he was a career felon.”
Once they executed Smith’s arrest, they located Weber and her two daughters.
Amber Weber (Fayetteville PD)
Officials transported Miracle and “her sibling” to the Harnett County Department of Social Services for victim assistance, according to a press release.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Officials recovered “numerous firearms from a convicted felon” as a result of their investigation, ATF Special Agent in Charge Vince Pallozzi said.
