KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — The Kernersville Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying two individuals captured in surveillance images released by investigators. Police say the pair may have information relevant to an active case and are seeking to determine their identities.

Authorities released still photos showing the two persons inside what appears to be a retail business. No additional details about the incident, date, or nature of the investigation have been released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kernersville Police Department at 336-996-2294 or email KPD-CrimePrevention@toknc.com. Tipsters do not have to reveal their identity.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A Forsyth County jury has convicted a North Carolina man in a decades-old sexual assault case involving a Wake Forest University student, bringing closure to a cold case that remained unsolved for more than 20 years.

Prosecutors said David Eric Mills, now 50, broke into the off-campus residence of a 21-year-old student on April 3, 2000, bound her hands behind her back, blindfolded her, threatened her with a knife, and sexually assaulted her before fleeing. Despite extensive investigation at the time, the case went cold until DNA collected from the original sexual assault kit was re-tested and entered into the national CODIS database. A match to Mills was confirmed in 2022, leading to his arrest and eventual trial.

Jurors found Mills guilty of first-degree sexual assault and first-degree kidnapping. A judge sentenced him to between 43 and 57 years in state prison, and he will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Court and correctional records show that Mills has an extensive criminal history dating back to the early 1990s. His previous convictions include multiple breaking and entering offenses, vehicle break-ins, attempted second-degree kidnapping, assault on a female, indecent exposure, speeding from police, second-degree trespassing, and a series of felony and misdemeanor drug-related charges, including possession with intent to sell Schedule I substances, attempted trafficking, and maintaining a place for controlled substances. Several of those convictions resulted in incarceration, probation, and revocation periods in Forsyth, Guilford, and Davie counties.

Officials said the long-dormant case underscores the importance of preserving evidence and retesting forensic material as technology advances.

Forsyth County prosecutors praised investigators, victim advocates, and the survivor, who participated in the prosecution after more than two decades.

Wake Forest University issued a statement acknowledging the verdict and reiterating support services for survivors of sexual violence.

Anyone with information about other cases involving Mills is urged to contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office or local authorities.

REIDSVILLE, N.C. — A former Winston-Salem–area pastor has been charged after an investigation into sexually explicit images involving underage girls, according to law enforcement and court documents.

Chadwick Joel Branch, 56, of Reidsville, was arrested on Nov. 20 following an investigation led by the Invictus Task Force, a multi-agency unit that includes the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said the investigation began in July 2024 after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children submitted multiple cyber tips indicating illegal content.

Investigators executed search warrants on internet service providers, residences and business locations before identifying Branch as a suspect. He was taken into custody with assistance from the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Reidsville Police Department.

Branch is charged with eight counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He is being held on a $75,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Forsyth County District Court on Dec. 8.

Separate reporting earlier this year linked a man with the same name and age to a February arrest in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., where authorities alleged child sexual abuse material was located through an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation. That outlet also reported Branch was previously a pastor in Sutherlin, Va., though North Carolina authorities did not reference any pastoral connection in their release.

The Invictus Task Force said the investigation remains active and encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

RURAL HALL, N.C. — A Forsyth County man is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he possessed explicit images of children, according to arrest records and information released by authorities.

Eduardo Rubio Diaz, 41, of Rural Hall, was arrested this week and charged with eight counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. An arrest warrant states Diaz is accused of possessing visual images of seven girls and one boy engaged in sexual acts.

The investigation began in August after a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children was forwarded to local authorities. Members of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Invictus Task Force identified Diaz as the suspect following a review of digital evidence linked to the tip.

Deputies took Diaz into custody without incident. He is being held on a $3 million secured bond.

Officials have not released additional information about the victims, and no further details are expected due to the nature of the case.

The investigation remains ongoing.

DAVIE COUNTY, N.C. — A Winston-Salem man was arrested early Tuesday after deputies say he led them on a high-speed chase that reached more than 100 mph and crossed into Forsyth County.

Around 1:21 a.m. on Nov. 18, a Davie County Sheriff’s Office deputy reported seeing a black sedan run a red light on US 158 at NC 801 and nearly collide with a patrol vehicle. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver — identified as 24-year-old Nathaniel William Mabe — accelerated and fled.

Deputies pursued the vehicle as it entered Forsyth County, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said Mabe continued at excessive speeds before pulling into a retail shopping center on Lewisville-Clemmons Road, where he ran from the vehicle on foot. He was quickly taken into custody.

Deputies reported finding marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. The car was seized under North Carolina’s “Run n’ Done” statute, which allows law enforcement to confiscate vehicles used in felony flee-to-elude incidents.

Mabe faces multiple charges, including felony flee to elude arrest, misdemeanor reckless driving, speeding, resisting a public officer, failure to heed lights and siren, fictitious tag, no liability insurance, left of center, multiple stop-light violations, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of up to one-half ounce of marijuana.

He was taken to the Davie County Detention Center, where he was held without bond.

KERNERSVILLE — Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 58-year-old man last seen in the area of Bost Street.

According to the Kernersville Police Department, Darryl Montand Mitchell was reported missing with no known clothing description available. Mitchell, a Black male, is 58 years old and has an amputated foot, a detail officers say may help in identifying him.

Authorities did not release information about the circumstances of his disappearance, but officers are actively searching the area and urging residents to remain alert.

Anyone with information on Mitchell’s whereabouts is asked to call the Kernersville Police Department at 336-996-3177.

WINSTON-SALEM — Police are investigating a Sunday night shooting that left a 21-year-old man injured in the 3600 block of Cedar Springs Drive.

Officers responded around 9:23 p.m. and found Phillip Delane Lucas suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital with injuries considered non-life-threatening, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.

Investigators say the case remains active as they work to determine what led to the shooting. No additional details were immediately released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the WSPD non-emergency line at 336-773-7700. Anonymous tips may be made through Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 (English) or 336-728-3904 (Spanish). Tipsters can also send text, photo, or video tips through the Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717, or by using the online Crime Stoppers form available through the City of Winston-Salem’s website.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A juvenile died after being shot Saturday night in Winston-Salem, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.

Officers were called around 9:30 p.m. to the 3500 block of North Patterson Avenue, where they found a juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital, where they later died despite life-saving efforts by medical staff.

Police have not released the victim’s name, citing the age of the juvenile. The case is being investigated as a homicide.

Investigators said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident, though no suspect information or motive has been released. Officers continue to interview witnesses and review evidence collected at the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Winston-Salem Police Department at 336-773-7700. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 for English, 336-728-3904 for Spanish, or via text, photo, or video to the Text-A-Tip line at 336-276-1717.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after construction workers discovered a body in a ravine along Reidsville Road on Thursday, officials said.

According to the sheriff’s office, workers notified authorities on Nov. 13 after spotting the body on the roadside. Deputies responded and confirmed the report before securing the area. The sheriff’s office is working with the N.C. State Highway Patrol to determine what led to the death.

No additional details, including the identity of the deceased or possible cause of death, have been released. Officials said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

“The FCSO values all life and will apply all resources and assets to bring closure to this investigation,” Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr. said in a statement.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office at 336-727-2112. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Text-A-Tip at 336-920-8477 or by calling Crimestoppers at 336-727-2800 (English) or 336-728-3904 (Spanish). For information or concerns involving juveniles, the Juvenile Intervention and Investigation Team can be reached at 336-917-7030.

UPDATE – Death Investigation

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the body discovered Thursday in a ravine off Reidsville Road has been identified as 15-year-old Carlos Mauricio Colindres. Deputies were originally called to the area after construction workers reported seeing a body down the embankment.

Authorities say the investigation remains active and ongoing as they continue working with the NC State Highway Patrol to determine what happened. No additional details have been released at this time.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office or provide anonymous tips through Text-A-Tip or Crimestoppers.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A student at North Forsyth High School has been arrested after a firearm was found in his vehicle, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, a deputy assigned to the school as a School Resource Officer received an anonymous tip about a possible weapon on campus. Deputies searched the students involved but did not locate a firearm. A Forsyth County K-9 officer was then called to search a vehicle in the parking lot that the students had exited. The K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and deputies found a gun hidden under the passenger seat, the sheriff’s office said.

Juan Pablo Mendoza, 18, of Winston-Salem, was arrested and charged with felony possession of a weapon on educational property, misdemeanor carrying a concealed gun, and three counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. He is being held at the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond. Mendoza is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 205 of the Forsyth County Courthouse.

“We are thankful for the collaboration between the North Forsyth High School administration, students and our School Resource Officers which led to this arrest,” Chief Deputy Henry C. Gray Jr. said in a statement. “There is no place for weapons on school campuses. We are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment, and we will not be swayed in our efforts.”

William Darius Aikens Jr.

WALKERTOWN, N.C. — A Walkertown man is facing a felony charge after investigators say an infant suffered a serious leg injury in a suspected case of child abuse.

Forsyth County sheriff’s deputies were called to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Brenner Children’s Hospital on Saturday after hospital staff reported concerns about possible abuse. Deputies learned the child had an injury to the leg that appeared to have been caused by force, according to the sheriff’s office.

An investigation determined the infant was rolled over by the leg during a diaper change, resulting in a significant injury, officials said.

Deputies arrested Brandon Lee Straight, 27, and charged him with felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury. Straight was taken before a magistrate and issued a $100,000 secured bond. He is expected in court on Nov. 10.

Authorities said no additional information about the juvenile victim will be released.