By JOAN McCOY
Leader staff writer
The search for a Lonoke County woman missing since July 28 intensified over the weekend when an informant came forward with information that led to the arrest of the woman’s boyfriend on Monday for first-degree domestic battery and kidnapping.
Sheriff John Staley said he can’t discuss the evidence that led to those charges because the victim is still missing.
Dennis Harrington, 41, from Clayhill Road near Lonoke, is being held without bond at the Lonoke County Jail. At the time of his arrest, he was on parole for aggravated assault and terroristic threatening.
Rebecca Lauer, 36, was reported missing in August by relatives in Texas. At the time of her disappearance, she lived with Harrington.
Staley sent out a press release Monday after Harrington was arrested saying his department is following several leads but still needs help from the public to locate Lauer. He said Tuesday morning in a phone interview that an FBI evidence team had to wait until daylight to begin searching for Lauer or evidence that would lead to her.
Asked if the evidence made them believe Lauer had been killed, Staley replied, “You never want to give up on someone who is missing.”
