A suspect has been arrested and charged in the abduction of Ahrea'l Smith of Virginia, NBC News reports.
The Northumberland County Sheriff's office said the 28-year-old woman had been missing since Jan. 12. Tyrone Samuel, 50, was apprehended on Saturday, police said in a statement.
According to sheriff Johnny Beauchamp, Smith, who worked at the Little Sue convenience store in Claraville, Virginia, was closing the store when she went missing.
Surveillance footage saw the woman start up her vehicle at 9:05 p.m. After, she was seen momentarily entering another vehicle.
Smith then returned to the inside of the store and finished out the remaining closing duties, including setting the store’s alarm system and discarding trash. She took the trash to a dumpster behind the store and was no longer seen on camera.
The person who occupied the other car Smith had entered is not considered a suspect in the missing person’s case, according to Beauchamp.
FBI agents are now assisting in finding Smith. Businesses have helped raise reward money on behalf of her return. Her job, Little Sue, also made a contribution of $1,000 toward the search efforts. The reward money has since increased to $9,400, according to the New York Post.
Lydia Smith, Ahrea’l's older sister, said that Ahrea'l informed her about seeing a strange person outside of the store, NewsNation reports.
Tyrone Samuel charged with kidnapping Ahrea’l Smith on January 12th. She is still missing.
Her family is trying desperately to find her.
Vehicle was discovered in front of store where she worked.
She was closing.
Virginia police know something. #MissingPerson
pic.twitter.com/m2eqB7NY1A— Rose (@901Lulu) January 18, 2022
“She said that someone at the door made her feel uncomfortable,” Lydia told NewsNation Prime. “She never really said a name, but she said that someone, you know, made her feel uncomfortable."
“But not that [Ahrea'l] was afraid. When she went to that trash like the last look on her face was her normal self. Her demeanor was calm. Somebody was waiting and they snatched her,” Lydia continued.
“I love her, and I wish I could have kept her safe. That’s all I got," Lydia said when asked what she would tell her sister. "I miss her. I pray that she’s safe and unharmed, and I just want her to come home. For real man, it’s been, like, five days. That’s my baby sister.”
