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Missing Alleghany boy may be in danger, authorities say
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Published: September 23, 2008
SPARTA – Alleghany County authorities believe 7-year-old Matthew James Wood is in danger since leaving with his mother early Monday morning from a house in the Whitehead community wrapped up in a yellow blanket.
In an Amber Alert issued this afternoon, the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety named his mother Teresa Hammond Wood as a suspect in the boy's disappearance.
"Amber Alerts are issued for stranger abduction, and they are also issued when the child is believed to be in danger," said Julia Jarema, the department's director.
The Alleghany County Sheriff's Office did not release any information as to why they believe the boy is in danger.
Deputies are searching near 87 Chevy Lane, the home where the boy and his mother were last seen. They left the home at about 3 a.m. Monday, said Pat Irwin, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. The boy was wearing a striped sweatshirt and jeans. He was wrapped in a yellow blanket and was not wearing shoes, Irwin said.
Authorities say he is 4-feet, 7-inches tall and weighs 55 pounds. He has light brown hair and brown eyes.
Teresa Wood is 37 years old, stands 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing dark blue jogging pants with the word "fencing" printed down the side. She had a dark gray pullover windbreaker.
They are believed to be traveling on foot.
"The only thing that we know at this time, she left at 3 a.m. with the child, no vehicle. The vehicle is still at the house she was staying at," Irwin said. She who added that she did not know the relationship between Teresa Wood and the people living at the home on Chevy Lane.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office at 336-372-4455.
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