Last week we reported that police were searching for a Mercer County man wanted on child sexual assault charges. Now, we’re learning that man has died following a child abduction case that began in North Carolina.
It started when police in Davidson County say they were alerted to a missing 14-year-old girl back on February 11th. Through the investigation, police found that 38-year-old William Ice of Mercer County was talking with the girl online and was responsible for taking her from her home.
As the investigation went on, police found Ice and the girl inside a car at a McDonalds in the state of Arkansas on Saturday. Ice initially complied when ordered to get out of the car, but soon reached for his gun and began to fire at police. One officer was critically injured.
A police chase ensued, before Ice crashed into a snowbank. The 14-year-old girl then fled the vehicle—and when police approached, they found Ice had shot himself. He would eventually die from those injuries.
Police were returning the girl to her home in North Carolina. The injured officer was in stable condition at latest report.
Police say Ice’s other cases will be investigated.
