Amber Alert: 16-year-old girl last seen in Stanly County found, suspect arrested

AMBER ALERT UPDATE:

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – According to the sheriff’s office Friday, an Amber Alert is canceled for a 16-year-old girl last seen in Stanly County.

“The suspect is in custody and the Juvenile has been located safely,” a Stanly County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post said. “This investigation spanned numerous agencies, states, dozens of law enforcement officers and telecommunicators. Thank everyone for their help.”

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) – Authorities are searching for a missing 16-year-old girl who was last seen Thursday morning at a Stanly County school.

According to the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, Stephanie Morton was last seen around 7:30 a.m. at South Stanly High School.

An AMBER Alert has also been issued for Morton.

Images of the red car Stephanie is believed to have left in.
Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

She was spotted leaving with an unknown middle-aged white man in a red car.

The man is the vehicle is suspected to be 30-year-old Duane Howard Bartlett.

Officials describe Morton as 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing approximately 175 pounds. She has red hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information should call 911, the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office at 704-985-0656 or *HP.