Missing NC 16-year-old found hidden under trap door inside Ky. man’s home

KINGS MOUNTAIN, Ky. (WTVQ) — A missing North Carolina 16-year-old was found hidden under a trap door inside a Lincoln County, Kentucky man’s home on Christmas Day, police say.

According to an arrest citation, Zackary Jones’ mother called the police about an “altercation between her son and his girlfriend” on Robertstown Road. Officers arrived at the home and found Jones inside, who told officers a girl wasn’t there.

Jones allowed police to walk through the home, where they say they saw drug paraphernalia with residue. Jones was then “restrained” and taken to a patrol car.

Officers reentered the home to search for the girl.

The 16-year-old was found inside a trap door that was hidden under a rug in the bedroom.

The girl, who had been missing from her home in North Carolina since Dec. 6, told police that he had been engaged in sexual acts with her and had strangled her, among other things. According to the citation, the two had been using crack cocaine and marijuana.

Jones had allegedly driven to North Carolina to pick the 16-year-old up after communicating with her online. He was armed with a handgun, police said.

Jones, 34, is charged with assault, strangulation, two counts of unlawful transaction with a minor, resisting arrest, unlawful imprisonment, drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, rape, sodomy, use of a minor in a sexual transaction by electronic means and terroristic threatening.

Additional charges may be added, police said.