New details have emerged in connection with an 18-year-old North Carolina teen found dead along the side of a Union County Road.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, a body believed to be Kierstyn Williamson, 18, was found Tuesday afternoon, according to Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey. Deputies arrested 25-year-old Joshua Newton, charging him with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Newton’s live-in girlfriend, 22-year-old Victoria Smith, was also arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact.
Investigators believe that Williamson had been talking with someone online and planned to meet in person for the first time Friday night. Newton then picked up Williamson near a restaurant in Laurens and drove her back to his home in Monroe, around two hours away.
As Williamson’s family and friends had not heard from the teen, they told deputies that Williamson might be with Newton. Police subsequently found Williamson’s body a few miles from Newton’s home.
“We believe that the dating relationship led to some comfort between Newton and Miss Williamson, which ultimately led to her getting in the car with Josh that night,” Lieutenant James Maye said.
“Family members knew she was leaving with Mr. Newton. There was just a perception that this was a dating relationship type thing, they were going on a date, and ultimately it ended up in her death, sadly.”
The teen’s uncle, Chad Bible, told the outlet was Williamson was a “trusting” teen who didn’t understand the dangers of the world.
“She was a very, very, trusting — she didn’t see the evil in the world. That didn’t register with her, that wasn’t a thing with her,” Bible said. “If people were her friends online, that was her friend. That was the way she was. She would have definitely seen them as somebody she could trust by being nice to her.”
Family members are now trying to understand why Newton targeted Williamson, who was also referred to as Payge, Jacob, or McKenna.
“She was my first born, she’s the one who made me a mama,” Williamson’s mother, Brittney Shealy, told CBS 7. “It’s not right, it’s not right at all, she should be here, she should be at work, she should be living her best life and she’s not.”
Police offered their condolences to the family and promised to bring those responsible to justice.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victim in this case as they begin to mourn this unimaginable loss,” Cathey said. “Over the past several days, the men and women of the Union County Sheriff’s Office have fully dedicated themselves to this case and ensuring the people responsible for this tragic loss were brought to justice.”
Newton remains behind bars without bond, while Smith’s bond has been set at $3 million dollars. She’s also still in custody.
Police say they won’t release additional information until the medical examiner’s report is complete.
The homicide investigation remains ongoing. UCSO detectives are asking anyone with information pertaining to call the UCSO Main Office at (704)283-3789 or Union County Crime Stoppers at (704)283-5600.
Check back for updates.
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[Featured image: Kierstyn Williamson/Facebook]
