UPDATE (Sept. 8, 2022): Charges against Linder were dismissed in August because “the victim is deceased and unable to testify.”

ORIGINAL STORY: Lee County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a local man on multiple counts of human trafficking and involuntary servitude.

Daniel Linder, courtesy of Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Daniel Lee Linder, 25, of 5233 N.C. Highway 87 faces six counts each of human trafficking an adult victim and involuntary servitude.

According to Captain Jeff Johnson of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the victim was Linder’s 21 year old girlfriend, who passed away in March from what authorities believe was a drug overdose.

Johnson declined to give further details, citing an ongoing investigation, but warrants obtained by The Rant indicate that Linder is alleged to have made the victim “perform labors by means of repeatedly requesting money through various internet applications to include images of a nefarious nature” while “providing a controlled substance for the purposes of having her earn additional monies for additional controlled substances.”

Linder’s offenses are alleged to have taken place on six separate dates between February and March of 2021.

Linder was placed in the Lee County Jail under $2 million secured bond.