Photos lead to dead end in search for North Carolina toddler

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - New images that were released just after midnight Wednesday have led to a dead end for police searching for the 3-year-old North Carolina girl who is the subject of an Amber Alert.

The Onslow County Sheriff's Office had posted images they said may be a woman carrying Mariah Kay Woods on their Facebook page. Investigators said the images were taken from a Walmart store surveillance video on Monday around 9:30 a.m. in Morehead City, North Carolina. Deputies and FBI agents wanted to talk to the woman seen in the pictures.

On Wednesday morning, however, the Onslow County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the pictures are not of Mariah, WJZY reported.

Authorities were hoping for a break in the case of the abduction of Mariah, who was last seen Sunday night at around 11:30 p.m. in bed at her home in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Fox News reported that her mother, Kristy Woods, said she put her daughter to bed that night around 6 p.m. and checked on her around that time. In the morning, she found the bed empty and her daughter gone.

Talking to Fox News, Onslow County Sheriff Hans J. Miller said there was no sign of unlawful entry into the home. At the time, Woods, her boyfriend, and Woods' two other children were inside.

Woods is described as having brown hair and blue eyes. She's approximately 2 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 30 pounds.

The FBI has also become involved in the search, with authorities investigating the area around the mobile home park to find any evidence of Mariah's location.

Anyone with information about the abduction or Mariah's location should immediately call the Onslow County Sheriff at (910) 455-3113 or tips can be anonymously texted via Text-A-Tip by typing TIP4CSJAX and your message to 274637 (CRIMES).

Authorities are offering a $2,500 reward for information authorities deem of value to the search.