The Sheriff’s Office said Alexandria Price, a.k.a. Anthony Mena, was “found safe.” Public records show there was more to the story.
By Annie Dance | Lake Lure News | Cops & Congress | News & Commentary | Reporting from Rutherfordton, NC
A McDowell County resident whose disappearance prompted a public search in July was later found and taken into custody after failing to appear for a court hearing in a pending felony case, according to court records obtained by Cops & Congress.
Emily Alexandria Price, 27, of Nebo, was reported missing July 21 by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office. The agency said Price had “last been seen July 19 in the P.G. area and was known to spend time in Asheville after recently being dropped off there by a friend.”
In McDowell County, “P.G.” refers to Pleasant Gardens, a historic unincorporated community and township just west of Marion along U.S. 70.
The sheriff’s office asked the public to help locate Price and provided a physical description. The agency’s notice also identified Price as a biological male who identifies as female and noted the alias, Anthony Paul Mena.
The sheriff’s office later announced that Price had been found and was safe. That public update did not mention that Price was in custody.
Court records show that Price was facing a felony charge before the missing-person report was issued (case number 26CR351004-580).
An arrest warrant filed July 7 alleges that Price, while employed by Dollar General, unlawfully took $9,533.27 that had been entrusted to the employer and converted the money for personal use. Price was charged with felony larceny by employee.
The warrant was served July 12, and Price was released on a $5,000 secured bond. Price appeared in court July 13, and a public defender was appointed. A July 15 court entry contains the notation “served in Buncombe.” The $5,000 bond was posted July 18, one day before the sheriff’s office said Price was last seen.
The criminal case continued while the missing-person search was underway.
On Aug. 3, Price was scheduled for a probable-cause hearing but did not appear, according to court records. The court record states Price was “Called and Failed.” The court ordered the $5,000 bond forfeited and issued an order for arrest, with a new secured bond set at $20,000.
On Aug. 12, the order for arrest was returned served, according to the court file. A release order was issued one minute later.
The court records reviewed by Cops & Congress do not identify where Price was located or which agency served the arrest order. They do establish that Price was found and that an outstanding order for arrest was subsequently served.
That distinction is important to the public record. The sheriff’s office’s announcement that Price had been found did not disclose the arrest or the circumstances surrounding the court order.
The July missing person notice was issued while Ricky Buchanan was sheriff. Buchanan retired Aug. 1, and Nathan Mace became sheriff officially on Aug. 10. Mace has no Democratic opponent in the November general election.
The current sheriff’s office has not publicly explained why its latest update described Price as found and safe without mentioning the arrest.
Public records identify Pena as Price’s birth name, while the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office jail system lists Price’s sex as “M.” Court records identify the defendant as Emily Alexandria Price and list Anthony Paul Mena as an alias.
The underlying larceny case remains pending. Price has not been convicted of the charge, and the allegations in the arrest warrant have not been proven in court.
A court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14 in McDowell County District Court.
Cops & Congress reviewed available public records, including the arrest warrant, charging documents, bond records, hearing entries, and order for arrest, as well as public statements issued by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
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🏛️ All those mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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