Amber Alert Azalea Strifler
An AMBER Alert issued for 15-year-old Azalea Strifler has been canceled after she was safely located in Dare County, North Carolina, following a search lasting more than 40 hours. Authorities confirmed that Strifler was found early Thursday morning, unharmed but under medical evaluation at a hospital.
The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office had issued the AMBER Alert on Wednesday, seeking assistance in locating Strifler after she disappeared from her home in Spring Lake. Strifler had been last seen near her residence before vanishing.
Two suspects, 31-year-old Elihue Martin Mahler of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and 23-year-old Austyn Lee Cole of Kitty Hawk, have been arrested in connection with the case. They are facing serious charges, including kidnapping and human trafficking. According to the FBI, Strifler had met one of the suspects online, which eventually led to her disappearance.
The FBI is stressing the importance of monitoring children’s online activities, highlighting that Strifler’s case serves as a reminder for parents to regularly check their children’s devices for potential threats.
