Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

3:05 a.m. • 6-18-13

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 82° F
  • Wed: Thunderstorm.
    • Hi: 82° F
  • Thu: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 83° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Published: 2011-07-22 16:58:00
Updated: 2011-07-22 17:50:52

Security photos show missing Kinston woman


Laura Ackerson, missing Kinston woman
Laura Ackerson, missing Kinston woman
print friendly

Police on Friday released two photos from a security camera showing a Kinston woman on the day she disappeared last week.

Laura Jean Ackerson, 27, was reported missing July 15 after she failed to pick up her two sons from their father in Raleigh following a business meeting she had in Wilson.

The co-owner of a marketing firm in Kinston, she was last seen in Raleigh on July 13, police said, and her white 2006 Ford Focus was found in the Camden Crest Apartments, near Glenwood Avenue and Lynn Road, early Wednesday morning.

Investigators are examining it for clues but said that an initial search found no evidence of foul play.

The security camera photos were taken on the morning of July 13, police said, but they declined to say where the camera is located.

In the photos, Ackerson is seen wearing a brown sleeveless blouse and tan Capri pants. She is carrying a black leather bag with white lettering and a brown Liz Claiborne purse.

Ackerson is white, stands about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs about 135 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Police said the security photos show her with hair that is shorter and darker than that depicted in photos shared by family members who reported her missing.

Ackerson has been in a custody dispute for more than a year with the father of her two children, but friends have said she wouldn't have abandoned the children.

Raleigh police have asked anyone who might have seen Ackerson in the past week or knows where she might be to call Crime Stoppers at 919-834-4357.


22 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments VIEW ALL 22 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments
First, who is the official that gave the order not to release the location of the security camera?? The location could jog someones memory and possibly lead to clues. Fire this irresponsible person now. Second, all avenues should be investigated. Beside the obvious spouse issues, no one has said whether the police are looking at cell records, dating accounts, email accounts, and maybe even Facebook accounts. The problem these days is too many women set up dates with strangers from dating sites and they don't even know who they are meeting for lunch. Women should assume that 99% of the guys on dating sites are perpetrators. Releasing as much info as possible will speed things up. There should be no secrets. You can't hide important clues that someone in the public may be able to help with. You need remedial training in law enforcement if you think holding info helps. How difficult is this to understand?

Everyone hopes she has just walked away rather than foul play being involved. If she's just walked away, I don't understand why a person wouldn't openly do so and not cause all this heartache to their family. This is such a waste of resources if she is OK.

ProudBlackSingleMother - "Anyone who would deny custody to a child's father is a bad person."

She wasn't trying to deny him custody. He and his mother were trying to take the kids from her.

Don't you read?

No foul play suspected? Sounds like mom got tired of the drama and is dealing with it in the most cruel way.

What makes even less sense is....if they find out that the father is the actual killer of the mom. Then who is the 'bad person' as you say?....ProudBlackSingleMother

View Comments VIEW ALL 22 COMMENTS