Obstruction charges in missing teen case: NC cops

The teenager was last seen in North Carolina six days ago – and now police suspect foul play in her disappearance.

Miona Jones, 16, was spotted on South 7th Street in Wilmington before she disappeared early on Nov. 1, according to the city’s police department.

Almost a week later, officers said in a Nov. 7 news release that there was a “suspect of interest” in the girl’s disappearance. The suspect’s girlfriend appeared in court on charges of obstructing the case.

The update came after a Facebook user named Mia Sellers identified herself as the teenager’s mother and criticized the police response. Sellers said officers did not return her calls until several hours after she did daughter is missing.

“It took almost 3 hours to get an officer to show up to file a report,” she wrote on Facebook. “Even when they got to me and my family, it didn’t seem like they were taking the matter seriously.”

The police department said in a release that “there has been a great deal of community interest and extensive social media conversation regarding the missing persons case,” and that “investigators have been in constant contact” with Mionna’s family.

“Since receiving this case last week, the Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and other partner agencies have committed significant resources working tirelessly to find answers to her disappearance,” officers wrote.

Police in their press release did not describe the foul play believed to be involved in the case. The New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office, which reportedly planned to release more details about the disappearance in court, did not immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on Nov. 7.

The sellers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mione is 5′ tall and 110 pounds with brown eyes and black hair in braids. She was “last seen wearing a red turtleneck, light blue jeans and black shoes,” officials said.

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to call them at 910-343-3609 or use the Tip411 smartphone app.