Teens found dead in Orange County are missing girl, 14, and boy, 18, sheriff says
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The deaths of Lyric Woods & Devin Clark
On Sept. 18, 2022, two missing teens were found dead with gunshot wounds in Orange County near Efland. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer of the investigation, its aftermath and trial.
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Update: The Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced a suspect Tuesday in the deaths of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark. For more on this developing story, go here.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Monday the two young people found shot and killed Sunday in western Orange County are missing teens Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18.
“Investigators are still awaiting a report from the medical examiner to confirm the victims’ identities,” Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a statement. “Although we do not have that confirmation yet, in the absence of any other missing persons matching the descriptions of the individuals located, the tragic but logical conclusion is increasingly clear.
“This loss is devastating for the victims’ families and friends, and indeed for the entire community,” he added.
Woods, a ninth-grade student at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, was reported missing by her family to the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday.
Clark, a senior at Eastern Alamance High School in Mebane, was reported missing by his family to the Mebane Police Department on Sunday.
Authorities have not made any arrests nor named any suspects.
The Sheriff’s Office did not say whether the two students from neighboring counties knew each other.
Two men riding four-wheeler bikes found the teens Sunday before 3 p.m., according to a news release.
ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner, reported they were found near a power-line easement in the Buckhorn Road area outside Hillsborough. The site is about 2 miles away from the house where Woods was last seen.
Both had been shot, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office is working to officially confirm the identities and cause of death.
Tiffany Concepcion, Clark’s mother, told ABC11 that she is seeking answers about what happened to her son.
“He never hurt anybody, so for him to get done like this is — I have to have answers,” Tiffany Concepcion said. “I want to get justice and I don’t care where I have to go, what I have to do, who I’ve got to talk to, I’m going to keep going and keep doing it.”
Dexter Clark, Clark’s father, reached by The N&O, declined to comment.
Unlocked back door
Woods was last seen by her stepfather around 11 p.m. Friday, according to a missing persons report filed Saturday around 12 noon with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a call from the family’s home in Efland, where Woods lived, on Saturday afternoon. Her stepfather said he learned Woods was missing Saturday around 10 a.m. when he went to wake her up, according to the report.
After a search, deputies determined Woods may have left through the back door, which was found unlocked Saturday morning, according to the report.
Woods’ family is offering rewards for information about her whereabouts. On Monday, her grandfather offered a $10,000 reward for information about her death.
A copy of Clark’s missing persons report released by the Mebane Police Department said he also was last seen around 11 p.m. Friday but provided few other details. The report was filed Sunday around 11:25 a.m.
GoFundMe pages for funeral costs
Clark was a football player for Eastern High School, according to a statement from the Alamance-Burlington School System.
“Our ABSS family and community are deeply saddened today about the death of one of our Eastern High School students,” the statement said. “(Clark) will always be remembered as a kind-hearted, gentle giant who was well liked by his classmates.
“Our condolences and thoughts go out to Devin’s family, friends, and classmates and to the Orange County School community who are also grieving the loss of a student there.”
The school district said additional counselors would be available for students and staff.
Orange County Schools released a similar statement about Woods, adding that administrators have spoken with family and the Sheriff’s Office during the investigation. In addition to Orange High, Woods had attended Gravelly Hill Middle and Efland-Cheeks Global Elementary, the school district said.
“Our hearts are with all of Lyric’s family and everyone who knew her,” the statement said.
By Monday evening, two GoFundMe pages had raised over $34,000 to help the teens’ families pay their funeral costs.
Friends of Woods’ family created this confirmed GoFundMe.
The aunt of Clark has organized this GoFundMe page for him.
Anyone with possible information about the case is asked to call Investigator Keith Goodwin at the Sheriff’s Office at 919-245-2918.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published September 19, 2022 at 7:54 AM with the headline "Teens found dead in Orange County are missing girl, 14, and boy, 18, sheriff says."
