Photo: Sanaan Mazhar / Pexels
By: Real America News Updated 28 Jan 2022, 12: 55 pm EST
Virginia police have arrested a man in connection with the disappearance of a store clerk from 28 years, who hasn’t been seen since he went to take out the garbage after closing the store last week, authorities said.
Tyrone N. Samuel, aged 54, of Heathsville, was arrested and charged with the kidnapping of Ahreal Smith, whose whereabouts remain unknown, Northumberland County Sheriff Johnny Beauchamp announced Sunday.
Various local businesses and organizations have pooled a $9 reward,400 bucks for any information leading to her.
Smith was last seen around 9pm Wednesday on the Claraville Little Sue store in Heathsville, where she works.
It was seen on surveillance footage leaving the store to start his car around 9: 05 pm before going back inside, police said at a press conference.
At 9: 18 pm, she was seen getting into and then out of a different car in the parking lot. The police interviewed the driver of the car and determined that he is not a suspect.
After getting out of the car, he went back inside, set the alarm, locked it and picked up a bag of garbage and began to walk towards a dumpster on the side of the store, where she could no longer be seen by the security cameras.
She has not been seen since.
The next morning, police said the day shift clerk found Smith’s car still running in the parking lot.
She was last seen wearing a black Nike hoodie, blue jeans, and brown Ugg boots. She has multiple tattoos.
Beauchamp told reporters that the Virginia State Police deployed a K-9 unit to track her scent in dumpsters.
The dogs caught the scent leading from the store to a nearby road for about 100 meters before losing it .
The authorities believe that he may have gotten into another vehicle, so the dog lost track of his scent.
A silver Crown Victoria initially it was considered suspicious, but on Saturday it was already considered a vehicle of interest.
“That’s my sister. That is all that I have. If anyone knows anything, let her go,” said Lydia Smith, Ahreal’s sister, at a press conference.
“If this was your family, what would you would you like someone to do?” she pleaded.
Following Samuel’s arrest, the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office received several calls threatening those involved in the investigation.
“Our office is receiving a substantial number of calls about threats to persons and property related to the Ahreal Smith investigation,” Beauchamp wrote Sunday night, after the arrest announcement. “Regardless of any intent, violence or vigilantism will not be tolerated. We ask the public to understand that each of these calls for service diverts necessary resources from the investigation. Our office will publish verified and accurate information to the extent possible.”
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