Body found buried in Lillington field

Lillington, N.C. — Harnett County authorities located a body late Monday that had been buried in field near Lillington and charged a local man with murder.

The case began Friday, when people reported a suspicious man in the area of Black Lane who was asking passing drivers for a ride, authorities said. The man said his friend had been shot on Tim Currin Road, according to drivers, but deputies who searched the area late Friday couldn't locate anything.

Over the weekend, investigators were able to identify the hitchhiker and get a lead on the possible location of a shooting, authorities said. However, they still were unable to find any evidence of a shooting, and no one was home at the residence they wanted to search.

On Monday, investigators were able to locate the homeowner, David Eugene Gates, who confessed to shooting someone and burying the body in a field near his home, at 291 J.M. Wallace Lane in Lillington, authorities said.

The body was recovered from the field at about 10 p.m. Monday and was sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office is Chapel Hill for an autopsy and positive identification.

Gates, 42, was charged with first-degree murder and was being held Tuesday without bond in the Harnett County Detention Center.

Authorities said they haven't been able to locate the hitchhiker yet for questioning.

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The records may say the crime rate is down compared to other years. I think we all get complacent with all the reporting of various crimes, unless some horrific act has been committed. I still believe we must hold these murderers, rapists, thieves, and other violent individuals accountable for their actions. I am not a violent person nor am I a vengeful man but it seems that a long prison sentence is not the deterrent that help ensure the innocent ones in society can live in as much a safe environment as much as possible.

1 awesome Dad
July 21, 2010 2:43 p.m.

Crime control :147 grain hollow point!!!! will do it!!!! The guy in the hole won't say crime is down ,will he I'll bet he'll debate you on that one!!!!!

the people
July 20, 2010 5:58 p.m.

Crime ain't down ,reporting it is down ;not crime itself think about that ;it's the reporting and how it is reported!!!!!How's it is classified,that tells the story;crime will all ways be out there you just got to find it!!!! Get it ya'll????

the people
July 20, 2010 5:54 p.m.

I sure see a bunch of comments about the crime rate. What that article was last week and people still complain about it. They said it was down not gone. No oppinion on this article there are too many questions not answered. I do like the idea of law abiding citizens protecting themselves and their property from worthless people that want to steal and rob because they don't want to be a productive citizen.

didisaythat
July 20, 2010 5:18 p.m.

Hey Bindimon, Think you can get a quote about crime being down from the guy they dug up?

People probably shouldn't be carrying on about the drop in the crime rate under a story about a murder.

mulecitybabe
July 20, 2010 3:36 p.m.