Strange text messages sent from kidnapped realtor's phone

The husband of a real estate agent who was kidnapped while showing a home to a stranger in the US has received a series of bizarre texts messages from her phone.

Police are narrowing in on a suspect related to the disappearance of Jacksonville real estate agent Beverly Carter, 49, who has been missing since Thursday.

Her husband, Carl, last heard Mrs Carter's voice when she called to say she was showing someone a house on Old River Driver.

Mr Carter became suspicious after he failed to hear from his wife for three hours and his worst fears were realised when he went to investigate the house she had visited.

Mrs Carter's car was still in the driveway, the door was open and her purse was inside but the real estate agent was nowhere to be found.

Mr Carter told THV11 that the next morning he received a series of unusual text messages from his wife's phone: the first said "yes", which was followed by a second message that said, "my phone's low. The battery's gone down, and I'll call you whenever I get signal".

Immediately after he was sent a final message from her phone that said, "Oh, I'm out drinking with some friends".

More than 250 volunteers have searched for any trace of Mrs Carter.

Police have this afternoon appealed for information to track down 33-year-old Aaron Lewis, who has been identified as a prime suspect in Mrs Carter's kidnapping, according to the Find Beverly Carter Facebook page.

"Share this photo so everyone in the world knows his face. Let's all help bring Beverly home and make sure this photo goes viral," said a post on the page.

"He has facial injuries and may even be wearing a hat to cover his cuts.

"Keep an eye out but do not approach him."