Security Tight for Teens Charged in Girl's Slaying

Sherrod Nicholas Harrison, 19, Michael Graham Currie, 18, and Van Roger Smith Jr., 16, all of Cameron, have been charged with first-degree murder and breaking and entering in the death of Emily Elizabeth Haddock.

The three teens made their first court appearance Tuesday morning and were appointed attorneys. A bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in District Court, but authorities have declined to disclose the time of the hearing for security reasons.

Rumors of threats against the teens swirled through the Moore County Courthouse Tuesday, although authorities said they have received no specific threat.

The teens were being held without bond Tuesday in the Moore County Detention Center, pending Wednesday's hearing.

Meanwhile, about 500 people packed the Hope Mills First Baptist Church for Emily's funeral Tuesday afternoon.

"Everybody's crying. It's sad," said Rick Parker, a friend of the Haddock family. "The preacher can hardly preach. It's hard for words."

Emily was found dead Friday in her home on Marks Road outside of Vass. She had stayed home from school with strep throat and was alone when someone broke into the house and, surprised to find someone inside, shot her several times with a .22-caliber handgun, authorities said.

One of the three teens charged in the slaying also is considered a "person of interest" in an attempted break-in last Friday about a mile from the Haddock home, authorities said.

Harnett County authorities located a stolen .22-caliber handgun on Monday in a car with stolen plates in the Carolina Hills area of the county. The gun had been stolen last Thursday from a home, and authorities said it might be the weapon used in the slaying.

Perry Ross Schiro, 19, of Cameron, was charged with burglary, larceny and possession of stolen property in connection with the gun. He hasn't been charged in Emily's death.

Harrison and Smith live on Marks Road about six miles from the Haddock home.

Harrison and Currie have had previous arrests.

Harrison pleaded guilty in 2005 to three counts of breaking and entering and one count of second-degree burglary. Currie pleaded guilty last year to two counts each of misdemeanor larceny and unauthorized use of a vehicle, and he also has been convicted of misdemeanor breaking and entering, trespassing and assault.

According to the state Department of Correction, neither teen has served time in prison.

Currie also was arrested in connection with a January 2006 break-in at Kaela Schmier's house in Harnett County, authorities said. Schmier said seeing his photo in television reports of Emily's slaying scared her.

"It makes me look back and think that could have been me last year," she said. "I think he should have been serving a lot of jail time."

The families of Harrison and Smith couldn't be reached Tuesday for comment. Currie's father said he wasn't ready to comment.