Memorial grows for Mariah Woods as community mourns

The FBI on Sunday night said the Mariah Woods case is now a state homicide investigation and the agency will have no furhter involvement.
Posted 12/3/2017, 11:35:00 PM Updated 9/23/2025, 7:52:28 PM

CRIME, JUSTICE NEEDS TO BE

SERVED.

>>> WE BEGIN WITH A

HEARTBREAKING DEVELOPMENT IN THE

CASE OF MARIAH WOODS.

THEY PIECE TOGETHER EVIDENCE THE

DAY AFTER THEY FOUND HER

REMAINS.

THEY MADE A DEVASTATING

ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER POLICE

EFFORTS CONTINUED INTO PENDER

COUNTY.

OFFICIALS ARE NOW WAITING FOR

RESULTS FROM THE MEDICAL

EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

EARL IS CHARGED WITH CONCEALING

THE GIRL'S BOOED DID AND LARCENY

AND BURGLARY.

CANDACE SWEAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING

THE STORY.

YOU SPOKE WITH THE SHERIFF AND

SOME GRIEF STRICKEN NEIGHBORS.

>> THIS IS A CASE THAT NOT ONLY

FKT IMPACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT,

BUT DEEPLY IMPACTED THE ENTIRE

COMMUNITY.

SHERIFF HANS MILLER SAYS EVEN

THOUGH THERE WAS SUCH A MAJOR

BREAK IN THIS CASE, FINDING THIS

GIRL'S BODY IS ABSOLUTELY

CRITICAL.

BUT STILL A VERY CRITICAL TIME

AND A TIME WHERE THEY HAVE TO

PROCEED CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE

THEY GET THIS RIGHT AND THAT

ULTIMATELY THEY GET JUSTICE.

>> Reporter: CRIME SCENE TAPE

IS STILL UP, AN ERIE REMINDER TO

A TRAGIC END TO THE SEARCH

>> WHOEVER IS INVOLVED IN THE

CRIME, WHOEVER DID THIS TO HER,

JUSTICE NEEDS TO BE SERVED FOR

HER, SO SHE CAN REST PEACEFULLY.

>> ALREADY 32-YEAR-OLD EARL

CAMERY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH HER

DEATH.

AS THE MEMORIAL GROWS, PEOPLE

ARE SEARCHING, SEARCHING FOR

ANSWERS.

>> I'M HURT.

EVERYBODY IS HURT.

I CALLED HER HAUNTU AUNTS

YESTERDAY.

AND THEY WERE IN TEARING.

>> WHILE INVESTIGATORS ARE

LOOKING INTO EVIDENCE, PEOPLE IN

THIS COMMUNITY LEAN ON ONE

ANOTHER.

>> I WAS ACTUALLY QUITE

SURPRISED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE

AROUND THE COMMUNITY CAME

TOGETHER.

BUT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WE ARE ALL

HERE FOR EACH OTHER WHEN

SOMETHING HAPPENS.

>> Reporter: WHEN I SPOKE TO

THE SHERIFF OVER THE PHONE, I

ASKED WHAT WE COULD EXPECT DOWN

THE LINE IN TERMS OF CHARMINGS

AND IF THERE IS -- CHARGES AND

IF THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON OF

INTEREST, BUT WE DO KNOW EARL

WILL BE IN COURT.

AND WE COVERED THESE STORIES A

LOT IN OUR CAREERS AND TALKED TO

A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

AGENCIES AND I CAN TELL YOU --

AND I SAID IT AT 6:00 -- I HAVE

THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR SHERIFF

MILLER.

YOU CAN TELL HE IS DEEPLY ROOTED

IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WANTS TO

GET THIS INVESTIGATION RIGHT SO

THEY CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM OF

THIS AND GET JUSTICE.

>> AND YOUR MOM IS A POLICE

OFFICER AND YOU CAN TELL THIS

MOVED HIM EGG MOTIONALLY.

HE WAS CRYING IN -- EMOTIONAL.

HE WAS CRYING IN SOME CASES.

>> Reporter:

DEVASTATED. AND THE PEOPLE WHO

PARTICIPATED

IN THE SEARCH, I ASKED ONE LADY,

WHEN YOU WERE SEARCHING, WHAT

WERE YOU THINKING?

AND SHE SAID "I WAS HOPING FOR

THE BEST OUTCOME."

AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT WASN'T

THE CASE.

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