The
ews
Journal
If It happened; it's news to
50^!
No. 2 Vol. 96
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
Suspected kidnapper caught, bond is $1 million
Kidnapped at age 11 and held in Mexico for 3 years, Dana Pevia attracts national attention
By VirroRiANA Summers
Staff writer
A national manhunt planned
by Sheriff Hubert Peterkinand
the FBI to apprehend kidnap
and rape suspect Hector
Mojarra-Frausto was
shortlived. Frausto.whoalleg-
edly detained a South Hoke
Frausto chjjij jn Mexico for three years
against her will, was captured just three days after
15-year-old Dana Pevia was returned safely home
with her two children to Hoke County.
Frausto was recogniJted by acitizen in Gatesville,
North Carolina and was captured by the Gates
County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, according to
Sheriff Hubert Peterkin.
Fie is charged with first-degree kidnapping and
statutory rape and is being held in Hoke County
Jail on a $1 million secured bond. His first court
appearance was yesterday after being extradited
by the Hoke Sheriffs Offiec from Gates County
over the weekend.
“Dana did not just up and leave her family, go to
Mexico and stay for four years,” Peterkin said.
“We have determined she was.forced to leave
HokeCountyb, Hector Frausto. IF 'lasbeenvery
cooperative, substantiating much o' what Dana
has already revealed to us.”
Meanwhile, Dana's ordeal to survive as essen
tially a prisoner, and her ultimate escape from her
alleged kidnapper are tentatively scheduled to be
televised nationally on The John Walsh Show.
This program is a spin off of the award-winning
America’s Most Wanted TV series. Inside Edition
documentary staff have also reportedly contacted
the Pevia family.
‘I have received the contract from The John
Walsh Show,” Peterkin said. “Hector Frausto would
have appeared on America's Most Wanted if he
ad not been captured. 1 appreciate the FBI assist- the Norfolk, Virginia vicinity. He was spotted by tary School, Dana was reported missing almost
mg us with this case. They havebeen very support- a citizen who had seen his photograph after recent four years ago. She was only 11 at the time of her
ive.” news coverage of the search for Dana’s kidnapper, disappearance from her bus stop at South Hoke
According to Peterkin, Frausto was working in A former honor student at South Hoke Elemen-
(See FRAUSTO CAUGHT, page 5A)
A
Above: Dana hugs a relative when she arrives at Raleigh Durham International
Airport. Left: Family and friends erect a welcome-home sign in the presence of
TV cameras. AP photo by Jon Gardiner
Mom says daughter’s case ignored by former sheriff’s administration
Wanda Pevia
By Victoriana
Summers
Staff writer
Yellow ribbons,
which adorn the mail
box and a large wel
come home banner
mark the safe return
of kidnap victim Dana
Pevia to her South
Hoke family. Yci her Natitc American mother,
Wanda Pevia, is grieving over her daughter Dana’s
betrayal by alleged Hispanic kidnapper. Hector
Mojarra Frausto. while she was in confinement for
three years in Mexico. The cider Pevia and sister
Rita McNeill are alsooutraged at the lack of caring
from theadministration of former sheriffJim Davis,
and the U.S. Embassy’s reluctance to send her
home unless the Pevia family could pay for Dana’s
airfare.
“My little girl yvas gone for tluee years, nine
months and 22 days,” Pevia said in tears. “I want
to know why the former sheriff’s office (Jim
Davis) did not do more to find her
“We thought Sheriff Davis had turned Dana’s
kidnapping information over to the FBI. I want to
know what the former sheriff’s office did to my
daughter’s file.”
Dana was a child of 11 when she disappeared
and could not think for herself, said Pevia and
McNeill. They said everyone let her down.
(See MOTHER SPEAKS, page 8A)
Sheriff launches
Adopt-a-Cop
page IB
Grandmother
convicted of beating
grandson
page 4A
Tree to be planted
in Balfour's memory
page .3A
Boy Scouts
honor Santangelo
page .3A
Births 3B
Calendar 4B
Classifieds 7-8B
Deaths 4A
Editorials 2A
Engagements 3B
Legals 6B
Public Record 4A
Religion 7A
Schools 5B
Socials 3B
Sports 6A
Weddings 3B
Hoke’s top stories
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www.thenews-journal.com
Chaplain to create ‘Wall of Honor’ for Hoke soldiers
Rally planned, website honors troops too
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
A “Wall of Honor” is being established
by the Rev. Elle Graham as an inspiration
to local families who have Hoke relatives
serving in the War with Iraq. His son,
Marine Lance Corporal Elliot B. Graham,
is assigned to Operation Freedom Iraq. He
will become the first person honored in
Hoke, serving as an example for others to
be recognized, according to Graham.
“I hope the Hoke community can take
a moment out of human compassion for
the sacrifices our troops are making to
keep us safe,” said Graham. “If you watch
TV long enough, it is like a bad movie to
watch the war, seeing people blown up
and missiles being fired,” Graham said.
“These are real people and Lord only
knows how many people we have from
Hoke County over there.”
Graham said a lot of career personnel
and a lot of young folks fighting for the
nation reside in Hoke.
"We want citizens to see the person,”
he said. "I hope it will encourage all proud
parents or friends to come forward with
photos of someone they know in Iraq so
we can pray for their safe return."
Eaeh week, T/w New's-Jounial will
publish photographs with a brief biogra-
phyoflocai military servinginthe Middle
East. Information and photos may be sub
mitted to editor Pat Allen Wilson with
also a brief message to each relative fea
tured.
“1 am hoping the Hoke Public Library
willalsoallow us to place a Wall of Honor
display for everyone to see,” Graham
said “1 think the military is doing a great
job, and 1 think this commemoration will
be positive for our county.
“It will also cause the military popula
tion here to embrace this county more. It
should send an overwhelming and pow
erful message to our loved ones that we
support them.”
Graham, a former Vietnam veteran
and chaplain of the Alphonso Pickett
VFW Post No. 7930, said he knows how
recognition can transform the attitude of
someone serving in a war.
(See WALL OF HONOR, page 5A)
Identity theft ring broken up with arrests, warrants
By Victoriana Summers
Staff writer
Sheriff’s detectives have arrested a band
of identity thieves who stole credit cards
and personal checks out of mailboxes
belongingto Hoke residents. Chief Deputy
Troy McDuffie said at least $10,000 of
property was stolen.
“These suspects were even makingcata-
logue orders and purchases with these
people’s credit cards since January,”
McDuffie said. “It was a really big ring.
The group started their illegal operations
in Cumberland County . When they spread
their activities into Hoke, we took over.
“Some of the people allegedly involved
in the identity theft ring arc from Red
Springs and F'ayettcville. Two suspects
have been arrested and two more have
outstanding warrants against them.”
McDuffie credited Sgt. Harold J.
Johnson of the Sheriff’s Office with solv
ing the case.
Michael Anthony Banks, 28, of
Conestoga Drive in Fayetteville, was ar
rested on March 20. He was charged with
(See THEFT RING, page 5A)
'' *
>i
III
Out of the past
The Pine Forest school
was moved yesterday
from its location in a
wooded area off U.S. High
way 401 in eastern Hoke
to the Raeford-Hoke Mu
seum. The one-room
schoolhouse is more than
100 years old.
News-Journal raises
subscription rates
Due to increased costs of post
age, The News-Journal is raising its
subscription rates. The rate increase
is the first in eight years.
Out-of-county subscriptions will
cost $30, effective immediately.
In-county subscriptions will
cost $20, effective May 1. Senior
citizens (65 or older) who live in
Hoke County are entitled to a $2
discount on in-county subscrip
tions.
In-county subscribers and in
county senior citizens may renew
for a year at the current rate of $14
through April 30 by calling 875-
2121 or visiting our website at
WWW. thenews-journal. com.
Six-month subscriptions are be-
ingeliminated, but the newspaper is
retaining its free three-month trial
subscription for newcomers to Hoke
County.