U.S. Justice Department Looking Into Brittany Locklear Case

RAEFORD, N.C. — Hoke County authorities are about to get some help in the unsolved murder of a young Hoke County girl four years ago.

In 1998, someone kidnapped 5-year-old Brittany Locklear from her bus stop and killed her. Despite help from state and federal agents, Hoke County Sheriff Jim Davis has not found Locklear's killer, so he is turning the case over to the U.S. Justice Department.

"We're going to take it to the federal sector to help them help us get to the bottom of this case," he said.

Davis said an old witness has come forward with new information that could lead to an arrest. He said he wants more manpower and other resources on the case.

Davis said the news is important to the community.

"It would mean a closure on this tragedy and would bring a sense of unity to this community," he said.

Davis said he is meeting with two federal agencies about civil rights violations in the case in early June.