EDENTON – The body of an Ahoskie man kidnapped last week was discovered here this morning (Tuesday).

Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan told the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald that the body of Donald Bradley Smithwick was found in a ravine near a golf course located just outside Edenton. There were no details of who found the body or what led law enforcement officials, who have been searching for Smithwick since Thursday of last week, to search this particular area.

Meanwhile, 40 miles away in Winton, Smithwick’s ex-wife, Janet Denise Harrell of Edenton, was making her first appearance in Hertford County District Court on the charge of accessory after the fact of first degree kidnapping.

Just moments after being led in handcuffs and shackles from the courtroom back to the Hertford County Detention Center, the grim news was learned about the discovery of Smithwick’s body.

Raymond Christian Jedele, a Kitty Hawk Police Officer and an acquaintance of Harrell, was arrested last Thursday on the charge of first degree kidnapping. He made his first court appearance on Friday where despite his plea that police had the wrong man in custody, his bond was increased to $10 million cash.

Harrell’s current bond is $3 million cash.