North Carolina child taken from her home found safe in West Virginia Walmart, man arrested

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (WTRF) – At approximately 5:24 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, Senior Trooper J. J. Mumford of the West Virginia State Police responded to a report of a possible child abduction involving an 11-year-old girl at the Walmart in Moundsville, Marshall County.

The incident stemmed from a report out of Banner Elk, North Carolina, regarding a missing juvenile. Information provided by the FBI indicated that an electronic device belonging to the child was actively pinging in the Moundsville Walmart area.

Upon arrival, officers from multiple agencies coordinated efforts to secure the scene and initiated a brief lockdown of the store to ensure public safety and preserve the integrity of the investigation.

During the search, law enforcement personnel located the missing child inside the store with an adult female, who is not a person of interest in this investigation. The woman was temporarily detained for questioning and subsequently provided information that led investigators to a male suspect, Luke F. Henderson.

Officers proceeded to Henderson’s residence on Grant Avenue, Moundsville, where he was taken into custody and charged with kidnapping, without incident. 

The juvenile was safely recovered, and arrangements were made for her return to North Carolina. The investigation remains active and is being conducted in coordination with state and federal agencies.

Senior Trooper Mumford was assisted by law enforcement personnel from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the Moundsville Police Department, and the Federl Bureau of Investigation.