10-year-old girl found dead after weeklong search; Arrest made

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A 41-year-old Alaska man was arrested by federal authorities, hours after a 10-year-old girl was found dead after being missing for more than a week, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Peter Wilson, of Kotzebue, was arrested Friday evening in connection with the disappearance of Ashley Johnson-Barr, whose body was found east of Kotzebue earlier in the day.

Wilson faces charges of making false statements to a federal agent, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Wilson was being transferred to Anchorage to face the charges, KTUU reported.

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The girl was found dead Friday afternoon, according to Alaska state troopers.

She was first reported missing Sept. 6 after she failed to return home from a local playground, the Daily News reported.

Johnson-Barr's father, Walter "Scotty" Barr, said in a text message to the Daily News that his daughter was a "very happy person" who "always had a smile no matter what."

Troopers said the investigation is continuing, KTUU reported.

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