Irene Trujillo Murder: How Did She Die? "There's only one person not sad here today," said Fletcher. "He doesn't confess.". But she never returned home. Locklears obituary described the South View High School freshman as a young girl who enjoyed school and indulged in foods and nutrition class, always bringing home new recipes to try out with her Grandma. She lived her life full of joy and was always smiling and laughing, it stated, something she carried with her to the youth camp where she volunteered. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. To unearth fresh clues detectives reviewed surveillance footage from a camera near the creek and subpoenaed Danielles cell phone records. The Creek, the Dateline episode devoted to the Danielle Locklear murder, airs tonight at 9 on NBC. The autopsy results showed that Locklear died of asphyxiation, either from being strangled or from having a sock put into her mouth. Several weeks later, the teen's body was recovered from the South River in Sampson County. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Type above and press Enter to search. Malloy told authorities during an interrogation that he killed her after breaking things off with her. All Rights Reserved. Top Stories. It noted the girl was preparing for her high school pageant, and loved Food and Nutrition class. She has worked as a freelance writer for over a decade, covering true crime and breaking crime news for several online news and entertainment sites, including the Inquisitr, Monsters and Critics, and Daily Crime. JeMichael asserted that Danielle lied to her grandfather about going to a friends house to return a book. The two argued and Malloy said as she walked away he approached her from behind and strangled her. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "We will continue her fight.". And the phone appeared to have been tossed at the scene. The victims ex-boyfriend became the focus of the homicide case. Theyve been in our home. Lock pleaded guilty to the charge of being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and was sentenced to serve six to eight years in prison in June 2016. When, in seventh grade, a teacher discarded a strawberry plant that had been used in a science experiment, Danielle fished it out of the trash can, carried it around all day at school, and brought it home on the bus that afternoon. Curious to know more about this case and what happened to the murderer? Were not talking about a cold-hearted monster. However, Alexis had hung out with Danielle earlier that same day at the creek. We cant deal with it.. The victims ex-boyfriend became the focus of the homicide case. I know sorry doesnt cut it, but I do I want to say Im really sorry. Locklear adored Michael Jackson, and throughout her funeral service, loved ones and community members talked about how much the Hope Mills girl was adored by those around her. Here is Danielle Locklear's obituary. A private burial will follow at the family cemetery in Sampson County. Through the speakers, Michael Jackson's Earth Song blared. In Locklear's obituary, the teen's involvement in Youth for Christ camp in Autryville, as well as her love for nature is highlighted. The Danielle Locklear murder was widely believed to be a crime of passion when her killers were found guilty at trial. It noted the girl was preparing for her high school pageant, and loved Food and Nutrition class. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of forty-seven years. All Rights Reserved. Yet, they had their fair share of ups and downs. Danielle Locklear in the spring of 2014. Through the speakers, Michael Jackson's Earth Song blared. Her voicemail contained a threat from her ex-boyfriend. Malloy joined the efforts. Described by her mother as a firecracker, Danielle Locklear was a freshman at South View High School in Hope Mills, North Carolina, at the time of her murder. Please accept Echovita's sincere condolences. Police learned that Malloy used a phone app to send texts to make it appear as if he was home at the time of the slaying. "She wanted others to know beyond any doubt, that she had love in her heart.". WTVD-TV reported that . He was ineligible for the death penalty because he was 17 when the. Photo via Facebook. About 350 people filled Fayetteville's Manna Church Saturday afternoon to bid farewell to Locklear, who went missing on March 11. Before JeMichael and Dominics trial began, public outrage led Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West to seek first-degree murder charges against both young men. There was no doubt in my mind, said Servie. Danielle Locklear was 15 years old at the time she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, JeMichael Malloy, more than five years ago. And most of all for the 350 attendees, there were plenty of shared memories of the girl described by her pastor, Dr. Linda Baldwin, as simply an angel., The Danielle Locklear autopsy confirmed what JeMichael had told authorities: the girl died of asphyxiation either by strangling or from a sock shoved into her mouth.. She would bake cakes for every occasion while expanding her knowledge by researching the . Danielles ex-boyfriend, JeMichael Malloy, was arrested, and he confessed to committing the murder. Je'Michael Malloy and Danielle Locklear in Final Moments. His arrest brought a small measure of relief to Danielles family but their bitterness and incredulity remained clear. Powered by. Danielle Locklear [Photo Credit: Justice For Danielle Locklear / Facebook], Danielle Locklear, 15: High School Student Murdered, Body Found In River Nearly Three Weeks After She Went Missing, On the evening of March 11, 2014, Danielle, who at the time was a freshman at South View High School, told her grandfather that she wanted to return a book to one of her friends who lived down the street, according to, Hope Mills Deputy Police Chief David Servie told. The strawberry plant is still living. She said Danielle told her a couple days earlier that Malloy had broken up with her. It noted the girl was preparing for her high school pageant, and loved Food and Nutrition class. (Photo credits: Danielle Locklear murder via Facebook, Instagram, Cumberland County Sheriffs Office) Friday night was a homecoming no one wanted. Nearly three weeks later, on April 2, 2014, Danielle Locklear was found dead. The high school freshman dated senior Burial will follow in the Bell Cemetery. On the evening of March 11, 2014, Danielle, who at the time was a freshman at South View High School, told her grandfather that she wanted to return a book to one of her friends who lived down the street, according to The Fayetteville Observer. Danielles disappearance became national news. Since Malloy was already a suspect in the murder investigation, the cinderblocks found on Danielles body led the police to search Malloys house, where they found similar blocks and nylon rope that matched those found on Danielles body. Dominic told investigators that when he went to the creek, he was shocked to see Danielle lying motionless on the ground on her stomach. "She wanted others to know beyond any doubt, that she had love in her heart.". Fayetteville (WTVD) -- Family members and friends who've endured weeks of pain came together Friday night to remember Danielle Locklear, who was found dead last month. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Revels Funeral Home Pembroke. Weeks went by. When I saw those cinder blocks at JeMichaels house, I knew we were at the right place. Find out which schools are closed in your district. After three weeks of lies Raleigh station WRAL reported that JeMichael spent time with Danielles family between when she went missing and the discovery of her body, asking Is everything OK? I cant say that she wanted him to stay with her other than that these were teenagers coming to the end of a relationship, West said. var sc_project=9846729; Afterward, they dumped her in the South River. Je'Michael Malloy, 17, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Danielle Locklear, according to WTVD. Danielle vanished on the evening of March 11, 2014, when she took permission from her grandfather and stepped out to go to her friends house down the street. In the summer of 2013, the sun was still shining on 15-year-old Danielle Locklear. Danielles mother, aunts, and other family members searched on their own and made flyers. His. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. When hours went by and Danielle hadnt returned, her grandparents called her cell phone, but they were unable to get a hold of her. "She wanted to touch you with her infectious smile," said Gary Stemple, an assistant principal at Southview High School where Locklear was a freshman. He said he was home with his friend. An off-duty police officer spotted her body floating in the South River, along the Sampson/Cumberland County line, with cinder blocks tied to her waist and ankles. A private burial was held in Autryville, near Locklear's Upper Room Prayer House Church. You ripped out my soul.. Authorities say 17-year-old Je'Michael Malloy of Autryville was . Thats when they contacted the Hope Mills Police Department and reported Danielle Locklear missing. "She wanted to touch you with her infectious smile," said Gary Stemple, an assistant principal at Southview High School where Locklear was a freshman. "She wanted others to know beyond any doubt, that she had love in her heart.". The victim was identified as Danielle. JeMichael Malloy [Photo Credit: Cumberland County Sheriffs Office]Danielle and JeMichael began dating in the summer of 2013 after meeting each other at a youth summer camp operated by an Autryville church. Stemple said she was solid academically, and encouraging to her classmates. And within a week, theyd gotten a confession in the Danielle Locklear murder case. FAYETTEVILLE DANIELLE LOCKLEAR FUNERAL POLICE. Her body was found floating in a river in Hope Mills, North Carolina, just several weeks after she went missing. Here is what we found out. They did not find Danielle, but they discovered a sock that belonged to her. Published by The Robesonian from Sep. 13 to Sep. 14, 2019. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. LA County to pay $28M to settle Vanessa Bryant suit over crash photos, Connecticut man killed in violent attack in West Bank, NYPD asks shop owners for help in crime fighting efforts, At least 29 dead, 85 injured after trains collide in Greece: officials, Conservative justices show skepticism about student loan forgiveness, Former 'Miracle' Met looks to revitalize historic community, Exclusive: Elderly woman left black-and-blue in jewelry store robbery, ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The entire town of Hope Mills, North Carolina was in a frantic search in 2014 to find 15-year-old Danielle Locklear. He admitted to helping JeMichael move Danielles body to the trunk of the car. He was. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. Watch Live. About 350 people filled Fayetteville's Manna Church Saturday afternoon to bid farewell to Locklear, who went missing on March 11. He asked Lock, who was waiting in the car, to help him move the body. The crowd helped raise money for a memorial service and funeral for the15-year-old, whose body was found in the South River three weeks after she . Was Danielle Locklear Hanging Out at a Creek? The crowd helped raise money for a memorial service and funeral for the15-year-old, whose body . "It's her. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Danielle Locklear was 15 years old at the time she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Je'Michael Malloy, more than five years ago. The trial was swift, and the judge awarded Malloy a maximum of 25 years in prison while Lock was sentenced to 6 years behind bars. In May 2016, Malloy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. On Apr. Locklear's white casket, adorned with colorful flowers, was carried out of the church by six men in her family. For three weeks, the authorities, her community and loved ones searched for the 15-year-old high school freshman but the search unfortunately ended when her half-submerged body was found in the South River, weighed down with cinderblocks, ABC11 reported. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. About 350 people gathered for her funeral, ABC11 reported, where her pastor called her simply an angel. The assistant principal at Locklears high school said, She wanted to touch you with her infectious smile. His friend Lock was also found guilty and sentenced to 6 to 8 years in prison. She enjoyed school and indulged in foods and nutrition class, always bringing home new recipes to try out with her Grandma. Locklears family told ABC11, Its been a month-long nightmare and I feel like theyve been around us. We need your help in finding Danielle Locklear. "And then our hearts were broken when we learned of her demise.". And to find out that the perpetrator, or the person who took her life allegedly is her own boyfriend, is a lot to take. She was always there for me.". (Because JeMichael was 17 when he killed Danielle, he would have been ineligible for the death penalty, and instead faced life in prison.) It was then that police arrested Malloy and charged him with the murder of his ex-girlfriend. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Share Donate now. JeMichaels attorney reminded the jury that his client was a well-mannered teen who enjoyed fishing and hunting, that JeMichael never had a violent history or a juvenile record, that he was set to enlist in the Marines after graduation from Cape Fear High School. . For more on this case and others like it, watch "Final Moments," airing Sundays at 7/6c on Oxygen, or stream episodes here. There, she mentored young children at a youth summer camp operated by an Autryville church. But four days after his initial denial, Malloy confessed. ", Triangle hotels, businesses plan for busy Dreamville Festival weekend, North Carolina Senate backs legalizing pot for medical use, Top vaccine doc: COVID lab leak theory 'plausible' but 'unlikely'. The crowd helped raise money for a memorial service and . The medical examiner concluded that Danielle died of asphyxiation but couldnt determine whether the actual mechanism for death was strangulation or the sock, according to Hamilton. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The location where Danielles body was recovered was less than a mile from Malloys residence. Friends and family came together to grieve and support, each other. Nuke had a smile every time I saw her she loved her babies and this isn't easy to except .I no ur wings are beautiful as ur soul was. In Locklear's obituary, the teen's involvement in Youth for Christ camp in Autryville, as well as her love for nature is highlighted. Read More: Irene Trujillo Murder: How Did She Die? , then 18. As her family mourned, police learned that a sock matching the one found at the creek had been stuffed into her mouth. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Family members of murdered Hope Mills teenager Danielle Locklear were back at the Cumberland County Courthouse on Tuesday as the two teenaged defendants appeared on the court . He was charged with second-degree murder, as the judge thought the killing was a crime of passion. The Hope Mills Police Department then organized volunteer search parties and began combing the town in hopes of finding Danielle. ", "She has touched thousands with her death and it will not be in vain," continued Chena Simmons, Locklear's great-aunt. Lock was brought in for questioning but he refused to speak with police. "It's her. When hours passed and there was no sign of her return, her anxious grandparents tried to contact her cell phone, but once they understood that their attempts to contact her were in vain, they contacted the Hope Mills Police Department and reported their grand-daughter missing. She's in the presence of God.". Described by her mother as a firecracker, Danielle Locklear was a freshman at South View High School in Hope Mills, North Carolina, at the time of her murder. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. All Rights Reserved. He doesnt confess.. Police executed a search of the Malloy residence, where they found cinder blocks and cord matching the kind used to weigh down the victim's body. ", "She has touched thousands with her death and it will not be in vain," continued Chena Simmons, Locklear's great-aunt. The only thing they could say was it was from both, he said. FAYETTEVILLE, NC . Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. They combed the area for the phone without success. When questioned, Malloy said that Danielle was having such a hard time with the breakup that he blocked her from his phone, according to investigative journalist Ana Garcia. WTVD-TV reported th Were disgusted. Malloy met Danielle at the Autryville church youth summer camp, and in no time, the couple started dating. When relatives found out that Danielles killer was her ex-boyfriend, they stated that they were shocked, as he was by their side throughout the whole ordeal: cooking for them, checking on their wellbeing, offering hugs, and evening liking their Facebook page: Find Danielle Locklear Dannie.. The two had began dating in June 2013, Danielle never returned. The argument became violent. On March 11, 2014,, while her grandmother was away Danielle told her grandfather she had to go to her friend Alexis house for a quick errand around 9:45 p.m. Danielle never returned. About 350 people filled Fayetteville's Manna Church Saturday afternoon to bid farewell to Locklear, who went missing on March 11. Danielles family grew more and more concerned. The autopsy also revealed that Danielle was not pregnant at the time of her death. 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