by The Associated Press
FILE photo of Hania Aguilar, who was reported missing out of Lumberton, North Carolina. (Photo credit: FBI)
Investigators believe a body found in North Carolina is a 13-year-old girl kidnapped from her home three weeks ago.
Authorities said at a news conference Wednesday that preliminary tests show the body found a day earlier is that of Hania Aguilar.
The body was found in a body of water in Robeson County about 10 miles south of the mobile home park where she was kidnapped on Nov. 5 after going outside to start a relative's SUV before school.
Police say a man forced the teenager into an SUV and drove off. The SUV was found several miles south of her mobile home park. The body was found a few miles farther away.
LIVE - Lumberton Police Department news conference:
The FBI issued a news release late Tuesday saying a body found in Robeson County earlier in the day was being taken to Raleigh for an autopsy and identification.
The body was found as part of a search for 13-year-old Hania Aguilar, who was kidnapped Nov. 5 from a mobile home park after going outside to start a relative's SUV before school.
But authorities have not confirmed whether the body is Aguilar.
Police say a man forced the teenager into an SUV and drove off. The SUV was found several miles south of her mobile home park. The body was found a few miles farther away.
Authorities plan to hold a news conference at the Lumberton Police Department at 3:30 p.m. to provide an update on the investigation.
