UNION COUNTY, NC — Officials say Kristy Brooks, 35, turned herself in after hiding with her 5-year-old daughter, Autumn Newberry-Rape, for over a year.
According to a release from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Brooks turned herself in to the US Marshal’s Office early Monday morning. Officials say Autumn was with Brooks when she turned herself in. Per a previous court order, deputies say Autumn was turned over to her biological father who had not seen her since December 2015.
In June 2016, Brooks was ordered to turn Autumn over to her father, according to previous reports, but failed to comply. Six months later, a judge issued a civil custody order on Brooks, officials say, that was followed by a criminal arrest warrant in January 2017 that charged her with Felony Abduction of a Child.
Brooks claimed in multiple posts on social media that she had reached out to Union County DSS and law enforcement officials regarding sexual misconduct by Autumn’s father towards the child. Brooks said that she had received no help from local officials and feared for her daughter’s safety, so she took off with Autumn and went into hiding.
Brooks is currently being held at the Union County Jail and bond is pending.
