A 17-year-old boy is wanted for the murder of two North Carolina teens found shot to death Sunday afternoon on an ATV trail.
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said a juvenile petition of two counts of first degree murder was filed Tuesday for the unnamed teen, WTVD reported.
Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, were reported missing over the weekend, both of them last seen late Friday night. Two men on ATVs found the bodies about 3 p.m. on Sunday, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
“Through the hard work of my investigators, along with the assistance of personnel from many other law enforcement agencies, we have identified a suspect in this case,” Blackwood said. “We will now work with local, state, and federal authorities to apprehend and present the suspect to the court system.”
The North Carolina legislature changed state law in 2019, halting automatic charging as adults for 16- and 17-year-olds. A judge, however, can transfer the case to the adult justice system with probable cause.
The medical examiner has not yet positively identified the bodies or the cause of death, but family members identified the victims as Cedar Ridge High School freshman Woods and East Alamance High School senior Clark. The two were friends, family members told WRAL.
Woods’ stepfather reported her missing Saturday afternoon, saying he heard her taking a shower about 11 p.m. the night before. He believed she left through a back door that was left unlocked. Clark, who lives with his father, was reported missing Sunday morning and was also last seen about 11 p.m. on Friday.
A tracking dog determined that Woods likely headed through the woods along ATV trails. A neighbor of the Woodses reported seeing the girl in a vehicle at about 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the missing person report. Deputies believe she got a ride from someone in that vehicle. It’s not clear if deputies believe Clark, the suspect, or an entirely different person was driving the vehicle.
“We are not resting until he is in our custody in Orange County,” Blackwood told WRAL. “Until then, our heads are down, and we are working toward that end.”
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[Featured image: Devin Clark and Lyric Woods/GoFundMe]
