Search for Missing Halifax County Woman Comes Up Empty

ROANOKE RAPIDS, N.C. — A search for a missing Halifax County woman on Friday turned up no new leads, authorities said.

Shonda Stansbury's family reported her missing on Dec. 9. Investigators initially thought she left on her own, but a 911 call received five days later has authorities concerned.

A woman called Warren County 911 on Dec. 14 to report that she thought she saw Stansbury in trouble near the Information Grocery store off N.C. Highway 158 in Halifax County.

The woman's cell phone dropped the call, and it was several days before Roanoke Rapids police were able to talk with her and learn that she saw two men chasing a naked and bloodied woman into a wooded area near the grocery store.

Deputies scoured the woods near the store Friday afternoon, but didn't find anything that offered a promising lead in the case, authorities said.

Stansbury, 24, was last seen wearing blue jeans, a gray blouse and white tennis shoes. Authorities said they hope someone will answer their call for help in finding her.

"I don't think she would have left on her own. I think someone took her," said Patsy Cashwell, Stansbury's aunt.

Stansbury's family put up missing posters in Wilson County this week after getting a tip that someone thought they saw her in that area. Investigators said they've exhausted all leads in the case, however.

"We were all upset, scared, worried to death that she might be dead. ... We're hoping she's not," Cashwell said. "It gets harder and harder every day we have to go through all this."