A quiet stretch of Iredell County turned into a crime scene on Tuesday when a Statesville-area homeowner walked outside and came face-to-face with a camouflaged intruder, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, who was reportedly loading items into a pickup truck at the time, bolted into nearby woods after being confronted, and deputies later arrested three people in connection with the break-in. The search pulled in detectives, K-9 teams and even a drone.
According to The Charlotte Observer, the fleeing intruder left a pickup behind at the scene before disappearing into the trees, and court documents reviewed by the paper put the value of items taken from the woman’s home at more than $5,500. The break-in was reported on White Oak Branch Road outside Statesville.
Search Turned Up Two Muddy Suspects Near Old Mocksville Road
Deputies quickly set up a perimeter while crime-scene investigators, K-9 teams and a drone swept the area. A nearby resident later told officers they had seen two people emerge from woods near Old Mocksville Road, according to Iredell Free News. When deputies checked the area, they found Adam Steven High and Candice Marie Daniel, who were both described as covered in mud, as if they had just crawled out of the woods and straight into custody.
Arrests And Bond Details
WSOC-TV reports that authorities later identified a third suspect as Michael Ray Elam and took all three into custody. According to the station, 42-year-old Adam Steven High was arrested at the scene and held without bond because he was already on pretrial release for similar offenses. Deputies say 24-year-old Candice Daniel received a $15,000 secured bond and 46-year-old Michael Elam was given a $10,000 secured bond.
Charges And Next Steps
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office says all three suspects are charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and entering, according to Iredell Free News. Court documents reviewed by The Charlotte Observer tie recovered property to the investigation and list the stolen items’ value at more than $5,500.
What Neighbors Should Know
Authorities say the investigation is still active and are urging residents to report anything that looks out of place to local law enforcement. Officials point to this case as a textbook example of how quick calls from neighbors, paired with K-9 units and aerial technology, can tighten a dragnet and speed up searches in rural break-in cases.
