CHARLOTTE — Two men are accused of abducting a North Carolina teen who was later safely recovered by state and federal agencies, officials announced Thursday.
An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday for the 15-year-old girl who is from Spring Lake in Harnett County after she was abducted the day before. Her family quickly reported her missing.
Agents learned two suspects took the teen to Kitty Hawk and Virginia Beach. The FBI worked with local police and the abducted girl was safely recovered from a home in Kitty Hawk.
Austyn Lee Cole, 23, of Kitty Hawk, and Elihue Martin Mahler, 31, were arrested and each charged with felony human trafficking of a child victim, felony kidnapping, felony conspiracy to kidnap, and felony conspiracy, human trafficking.
Both men are being held in the Harnett County Jail and had their first court appearance Friday morning.
Mahler has a criminal history, including fleeing to elude and assaulting a law enforcement officer. His bond was increased to $5 million on Friday. He will represent himself in court.
Cole’s bond was also increased to $5 million, and asked for a court-appointed attorney.
Their next court dates are on March 11.
The Amber Alert was canceled on Thursday.
The investigation is ongoing.
VIDEO: Search for abducted toddler from Virginia comes to an end at relatives’ home in Charlotte
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