3 arrested after missing child report discovered to be a hoax

By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

The stepmother of a juvenile reported missing on April 29, along with the girl’s father and a family friend, were arrested this week.

It was all a hoax, part of a conspiracy after a child custody hearing in court, according to the Davie County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff J.D. Hartman reported the two-day search for the girl, age 10, cost the county $86,684.98.

It all started on Monday, April 29 at 1:50 p.m. when Arlene Cruze reported that her stepdaughter had run away and was a suicide risk, the sheriff reported.

The sheriff’s office immediately responded to the rural Bethesda Road home, near the Yadkin County line. Davie and Yadkin sheriff’s K9 units were called, as were search resources from Rowan County and the Winston-Salem Police Department.

Other jurisdictions also helped look for the girl at the residences of other family members, he reported.

“During the investigation, multiple search warrants were served, due to concerns noted by the initial responding deputies in the circumstances and narrative provided by the juvenile’s stepmother (Cruz) and her father, Eduardo Avila-Garcia. While the missing person search was being conducted on April 29 and 30, detectives were proceeding with the investigation and considering other reasons why the juvenile could not be located.”

On Tuesday, April 30, at approximately 7 p.m., the missing juvenile was located at a residence on Sentry Point Lane in Winston-Salem. The residence was that of Angie Gardelys Amador, a co-worker and friend of Arlene Cruz, the sheriff reported.

Amador said that an unknown female juvenile showed up on her doorstep.

The investigation determined that there was a custody hearing two hours before on the day the girl was reported missing. After court, the juvenile was taken to her father’s house at 270 Bethesda Lane, Mocksville, and then sent to Gardelys’ residence by Uber, Hartman reported.

Davie Emergency Management, Davie Rescue Squad, and multiple fire departments from Davie and surrounding areas joined the sheriff’s office in the search for the missing juvenile.

A total of 159 personnel, as well as a Mobile Command Center, six drones, seven ATVs, and one NC Highway Patrol helicopter participated in the search. Based on the NC Emergency Management cost schedule, the total 2-day search cost for Davie County was $86,684.98, he said.

On Wednesday, May 29 at approximately 5:45 p.m., three individuals were arrested.

• Eduardo Avila-Garcia, 28, of 270 Bethesda Lane, Mocksville, is charged with felony abduction of children, felony conspiracy for abduction of children, and felony obstruction of justice, and was taken into cusdoty in lieu of a $75,000 bond;

• Arlene Cruz, 35, of 270 Bethesda Lane, Mocksville, is charged with felony abduction of children, felony child abuse, felony false report involving a child disappearance, felony conspiracy for abduction of children, felony obstruction of justice, and was taken into custody in lieu of a $75,000 bond with a first court appearance scheduled for Thursday; and

• Angie Gardelys Amador, 40, of Sentry Point Lane, Winston-Salem, is charged with felony abduction of children, felony child abuse, felony conspiracy for abduction of children, and felony cbstruction of justic, and was taken into custody in lieu of a $75,000 bond. She was released from custody after posting bond..

“The Davie County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the county agencies and volunteers who responded to the search for the missing juvenile,” Hartman said. “This was a quick and tremendous response. We would also like to thank all our law enforcement and emergency services partners for their rapid response to a report of a child in danger. This investigation is continuing.”

If you have any information, contact the sheriff’s office at 336-751-6238 or email sheriff@dcsonc.com . You may leave an anonymous message at https://davie-so-nc.zuercherportal.com/#/submit_tip .

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