THIS MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER HIS NIECE'S BEST FRIEND WAS DISCOVERED CRYING IN A ROADSIDE DITCH. THE 12-YEAR-OLD SURVIVOR'S STATEMENT TO AUTHORITIES WAS CHILLING.(PHOTO).

 This man was arrested after his niece's best friend was discovered crying in a roadside ditch. The 12-year-old survivor's statement to authorities was chilling. 

A North Carolina woman was taken aback when she saw a young girl in a ditch on her drive home after work on Sunday, August 16th. As she took in the startling scene... a crying little girl in a ditch, in an oversized t-shirt, wearing no shoes, covered in scratches, she knew she was stopping to help. 

As she pulled to stop, she asked if the child was okay. When the child responded that she had been kidnapped, the woman couldn't believe her ears. 

The Good Samaritan had the girl immediately get into the safety of her vehicle. The driver locked the doors and she drove the child straight to the Erwin police department. This is when authorities would learn the details of the nightmare ordeal the girl had successfully escaped from. 

The young girl's story left authorities terrified of how it might have ended if she hadn't escaped...

The young girl told authorities she had been staying overnight at her friend's home for a sleepover. She stated that her friend's uncle entered the room unexpectedly. She said that the uncle, who was later identified as 38-year-old Daniel Gear, woke her up and forced her from the home. This nightmare was happening while she was wide awake and, sadly, it was just beginning. 

She went on to tell authorities that once outside, Gear forced her into his truck. He then drove the young girl into a dark, wooded area where she was forced to exit the truck. After leaving the vehicle, she was made to walk deep into the woods for what seemed like hours as Gear kept physically pushing and shoving her along. 

The 12-year-old survivor told authorities that while still in the woods with her friend's uncle, she was terrified, so she made a decision- she was going to run for her life. The girl said she was able to lose Daniel Gear in the woods and continued running through the woods until reaching the roadway ditch on highway 421. 

Authorities began searching for Daniel Gear, and 7 hours after finding the brave young girl in a roadside ditch, he was taken into custody. 

Daniel Gear is charged with first-degree kidnapping and @ssault on a female. His bond was set at 2.5 million dollars.