Raleigh police probe suspicious death

Officers found the body of Patsy Eason Barefoot around 10 a.m. after a family member reported not being able to contact her. Investigators are not releasing the cause of her death at this time.

Investigators posted fliers and talked to Barefoot’s neighbors Sunday as they looked for clues into her death. Her silver 2002 Ford Focus is missing.

"They (police) just wanted to know if I had seen the lady’s car. Unfortunately, I hadn't seen it recently. I wasn't able to give them any good information,” neighbor Kyle Liestman said.

Valinda Barnes said Barefoot, who was her friend and co-worker at Fresh Market, was a fun-loving person who had some tough times this past year. One of her sons died recently and she was waiting on an organ transplant, Barnes said.

“I’m just blow away, just remembering our good times together,” Barnes said. “Please speak up. It's our friend. (It's) somebody’s mom, grand-mom."

A neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said she heard strange sounds coming from Barefoot’s apartment the night before her body was found.

"Right now, I’m scared because I don't really know what happened,” the woman said. “I heard this loud thumping … it was loud enough to wake me up."

Investigators dusted the apartment for fingerprints and continued to look for evidence Sunday.

Anyone with information that could help officers locate the car, with N.C. license plate RNY-5847, or provide other information that might assist the investigation is urged to call the Raleigh Police Department’s Detective Division at 919-996-3555 or Raleigh Crime Stoppers at 919-834-HELP.

Crime Stoppers pays case rewards for information that help solve cases.