Friends, family march for missing Goldsboro teen

The update in the case would come hours after family and friends of McLaurin Jr. marched through Goldsboro to draw attention to his case.

Participants, including North Carolina NAACP President Rev. William Barber, started at the McLaurin family home at 5:30 p.m. and walked to the Goldsboro Police Department.

"All of us are kin today. All of us are hurting today," Barber said.

But the pain is especially sharp for McLaurin's parents, Ken McLaurin and Kimberly Best.

"Today made 11 days (since he went missing), and I'm very frustrated," said Ken McLaurin. "It's still kind of hard, you know, to sleep, eat. If somebody knows where my son is at, please call in to the tip line."

Best is holding out hope for her son's safe return.

"I haven't been able to function, hardly do anything, just waiting around for him to come home," she said.

Goldsboro police believe McLaurin Jr., 16, was abducted Sept. 9 from the 700 block of Bain Street in the Woodcrest Housing Community, where he lived with his family, and forced into a car by three of four black males. 

An Amber Alert was issued for the teen, who was seen in a 1990s blue-gray, four-door Oldsmobile with faded paint. 

Goldsboro Police Sgt. Dwayne Dean said Monday that the case is still classified as a missing persons case. Investigators have passed out fliers in the Bain Street area and continue to gather tips, he said.

Best reported her son missing Sept. 10 after becoming concerned when he didn't come home the night before. After hearing rumors that he had been abducted, she called police.

McLaurin stands about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, pierced ears and a tattoo of the initial K on his left hand.

Anyone with information about McLaurin's disappearance can call a 24-hour tip line at 919-580-4243.

They can also call 911, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol at *HP, the Goldsboro Police Department at 919-705-6572 or Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255.