Police: Fourth suspect arrested; teen's body found
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 21, 2012 4:47 PM
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Goldsboro police have announced that one more arrest has been made in connection to the murder of 16-year-old Kennedy Fitzgerald McLaurin Jr., bringing the total to four.
They have also located a body in the Seven Springs area that they believe to be that of McLaurin. The remains will be sent to the N.C. State Medical Examiner's Office for analysis and positive identification.
Arrested this afternoon was Curtis Omar Etheredge, 17, of 113 Biltmore Drive. He turned himself in to Goldsboro police at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday. He has been placed in the Wayne County Jail under no bond pending his first appearance.
Arrested Friday were Leonard Eugene Joyner, 21, 104 Cottonfield Drive, who turned himself in after seeing himself on television; Jerome Jilah Butts, 19, 186 Sandstone Drive; and Kevin Edwards Smith, 18, 200 Marlette Drive. All three men are charged with murder and are being held in the Wayne County Jail with no bond.
Police said they do not believe that McLaurin's murder was random and that he is believed to have been connected to the men who are charged with his murder after having abducted him from the 700 block of Bain Street in the Woodcrest Housing Community on Sept. 9. They do not believe, though, that it was gang related, but did not offer a motive.
McLaurin was reported missing on Sept. 10 by his mother, Kimberly Best, when he didn't come home the night before. An Amber Alert was issued on Sept. 12.
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