Maddie Benson, a 13-year-old autistic and nonverbal girl, was found dead in Jones County after authorities say she was struck by a dump truck along a rural roadway.
JONES COUNTY, N.C. — A 13-year-old autistic, nonverbal girl who had been reported missing was found dead early Tuesday morning in Jones County, and investigators say the circumstances are devastating.
According to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the teen — identified as Maddie Benson — was located around 7:10 a.m. along 10 Mile Fork Road in Trenton. Authorities say she appears to have been struck and killed by a vehicle while walking.
Officials with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol say the driver of a dump truck hit something in the road but believed it was an animal at the time. Because of heavy fog and low visibility in the early morning darkness, the driver — along with another passing motorist — tried to locate what was hit but couldn’t find anything.
Troopers say the motorist later returned to the area to search again — and that’s when the horrifying discovery was made. The body of a young female was found deep in a ditch off the roadway.
Authorities later confirmed it was Maddie Benson.
As of now, no charges filed against the dump truck driver, and the investigation remains ongoing.
