NEWSOMS

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday afternoon that it’s offering a reward of up to $5,000 if provided information could lead to the location of Cynthia Carver of Newsoms. The 34-year-old mother of two children is believed by the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office and FBI to have been abducted, and she has been missing since Feb. 22.

As previously reported in The Tidewater News, Carver’s mother, Ann, noticed early that afternoon that her daughter’s car was still in the driveway of her home on Everett Street. Carver was to have started a new job that day. Ann went to the house, found the back door open and called the law. When deputies arrived, they searched to see if anyone was inside. As the house was empty, the premises and search warrants were next both secured. Evidence of blood and a knife were later found, which helped lead the investigators to believe Carver did not go of her own volition. That evidence is still being researched.

During a press conference on March 5, Lt. Camden Cobb of the Southampton agency confirmed that she is believed to have been abducted. Further, there was no reason to think that she not still alive. FBI spokeswoman Cynthia Pullen, who informed media of the reward, said the Norfolk office was working with the local authorities in the search.

The night before Carver’s disappearance, she was reportedly last seen at around 9 p.m. on Thomaston Road in Newsoms. Earlier that day, she was also witnessed going on various errands in Portsmouth and Norfolk.

There have been no specific suspects identified, but Cobb did say at the conference, “There are multiple persons of interest in the case that we are working diligently to identify and interview based on recent contact they may have had with Cynthia.”

But, he added, there is a possible suspect vehicle, a silver Chrysler, maybe a Chrysler 200 or similar, which might figure into the abduction.

“A vehicle matching that description was seen leaving Carver’s residence the night of her abduction,” the lieutenant said.

Investigators still await permission to get access to social media sites that Carver used. The woman was reported to be active socially, and had been known to have used two dating apps.

The black female is approximately 5 foot, 1 inch tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo of a butterfly above “Cynthia” on her right upper arm.

The searches that were done by Newsoms residents the following week did yield what Cobb called “items of interest,” but he didn’t elaborate about them.

Carver is approximately 5-foot, 1-inch tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo of a butterfly above “Cynthia” on her right upper arm.

If anyone has information about her disappearance, call 609-2482.

For more details available by the FBI, Pullen said to follow on Twitter @FBINorfolk.

The Tidewater News will continue to report on this matter as it progresses.