The ‘Suspect, 17 Years Old In Murder Of Lyric Woods And Devin Clark From Orange County Now In Custody’ Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, were found fatally shot along a hiking trail in Orange County, North Carolina, last month. A suspect is officially in custody for the deaths of North Carolina teens Lyric Woods and Devin Clark.
Suspect, 17 Years Old In Murder Of Lyric Woods And Devin Clark From Orange County Now In Custody
Woods, 14, and Clark, 18, were found shot to death along a hiking trail in Orange County, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly after, officials said they identified a 17-year-old suspect, but had not arrested them yet. The suspect’s name was not released as they are a minor.
On Wednesday, the OCSO announced that “authorities detained a juvenile in connection” with the deaths of Woods and Clark.
In a statement, Sheriff Charles Blackwood said, “We hope this apprehension provides some relief to the families and friends of Devin and Lyric, who have experienced an excruciating loss. Obviously, the capture of the suspect does not restore their loved one to them. The grieving process is a long one, and we hope the community will continue to support them in their pain.”
Death: Missing Lyric Woods & Devin Clark Were Found SHOT DEAD in Orange County, North Carolina
Two North Carolina teens reported missing over the weekend were found shot dead on Sunday in western Orange County.
Family members confirmed the bodies were 14-year-old Lyric Woods and 18-year-old Devin Clark, WTVD reported, although the medical examiner has not made an official confirmation.
“Through our ongoing investigation, we have information that suggests the two individuals located off Buckhorn Road yesterday are Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18,” said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. “Lyric’s disappearance was reported by family members to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday afternoon. At 3:44 pm, the deputy reported Lyric missing to the NCIC. Concerned about Devin Clark’s location, his family phoned the Mebane Police Department on Sunday. He was registered into NCIC by a police officer at around 1:42.
North Carolina law prohibits anyone from sharing any details about the case — including the detainee’s name, where he was arrested, or which officer took him into custody — as long as it’s under the Juvenile Court’s jurisdiction.
Added Blackwood: “We understand our community is hungry for information to help process this tragedy; however, the laws regarding juvenile confidentiality are ironclad. We have no ability to set them aside, even given the heightened interest in this case.”
Joe Concepcion Jr., Clark’s uncle, opened up to Rolling Stone about the frustration and uneasiness his family felt after authorities initially shared news of the 17-year-old suspect, but did not identify them or provide any further details.
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“We can’t find his phone, we don’t know where his backpack is,” Concepcion said of his nephew. “We don’t know anything. We didn’t even have an open funeral. They had to put the pieces together.”
Mallory Thornton, whose daughter was friends with Woods, added that the victims’ friends were afraid to go to school with an unknown suspect at large.
“These children are literally fighting over this case,” she said. “[Blackwood should] come out and look these children in the face and say, ‘Hey, I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not at liberty to say certain things about the case, I just want to reassure you that you’re safe.’ “
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The bodies of Woods and Clark were found last month by men riding ATVs in the area.
“Family members reported Lyric missing Saturday afternoon to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office,” a statement from the OCSO said at the time. “Devin Clark’s family contacted the Mebane Police Department on Sunday with concerns about his whereabouts.”
Lyric was a ninth grader at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, and Devin was a senior at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane.
The teens were described as acquaintances.
