Cops: N.C. woman faked her disappearance to avoid court

LOWELL, N.C. - A woman who was reported missing in a South Carolina resort area over the weekend faked her disappearance to avoid court, reports CBS affiliate WRAL.

Her current whereabouts are unknown.

Police in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., said investigators have determined that 42-year-old Amy Arrington, of Lowell, N.C., did not drown in the ocean on Saturday as was previously feared, according to the station.

City spokesman Pat Dowlings said Wednesday investigators believe the woman and her husband, 45-year-old Paul David Arrington, conspired for her to go missing in order to avoid a court appearance in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday. Amy Arrington was due in court for charges of forgery and identity theft, WRAL reports. A judge issued a warrant for her arrest.

According to the station, Paul Arrington told a lifeguard that he saw his wife walking into the ocean Saturday evening. He said in a police report that he was going to join her in about 20 minutes, but she vanished.

Dowling said Paul Arrington is now being charged with filing a false police report for his missing wife.

Authorities conducted land and water searches for Amy Arrington but were unable to find her.