SBI Hopes New Information Renews Interest in Brittany Locklear Case

The 5-year-old was abducted from her Hoke County bus stop last January. Her body was found the next day in a drainage ditch.

The publicity surrounding the death of the 5-year-old has faded, as have new leads in the unsolved investigation.

Tuesday, the State Bureau of Investigation released new information in hopes of reviving interest in the case.

Agents plan to distribute posters in four counties with information about reward money totaling $16,000.

"We believe someone out there knows something, that information has been shared between the perpetrator, his family," says Hoke County Sheriff Jim Davis. "At some point of time, his conscience is going to play a major role in solving this case."

With help from

FBI

behavioral analysts, state agents now know more about a possible suspect. Federal experts believe the murderer may have felt some remorse and confided in someone.

"The person that did this probably underwent some behavioral changes after the crime," says Fred McKinney, SBI special agent in charge. "One thing that this person probably did -- they probably confided in somebody of what they had done and when they did it."

Seven of the state's senior agents and two analysts are working out of Raeford. As part of the newly formed Brittany Locklear Task Force, they are reinterviewing witnesses and following old and new leads.

As a result, specific information about a possible suspect has been scaled back. Agents will only say they are looking for a male suspect and a full size pickup truck.

"It is very frustrating, but we try and stay motivated on the case," says task force member Van Parker. "We look at a young, 5-year-old girl who has been murdered for no reason and that motivates us and keeps us dedicated to this case."

Several months ago sheriff's officials had a suspect in mind, but today SBI agents say they have never been close to solving this case.