Body found buried in backyard identified as Lumberton man missing since 2016

The Robeson County Sheriff's Office has identified a body found buried in a backyard last month as Billy Gene Hammonds, who went missing in 2016 at the age of 36.

Hammonds, from Lumberton, was reported missing on Dec. 9, 2016. When deputies arrived at his home on McKinnon Rollin Road on that day, they spoke with his sister, who said she last saw her brother days earlier, on Dec. 1 around 3 p.m.

Hammonds was reported to be in the area of Warwick Mill Road, but investigators believe he was last seen getting in a car with four other men.

Investigators have conducted dozens of interviews and searches since 2016, even leaving the state to learn more information about the case.

According to the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, a recent interview from a witness led investigators to a specific location on Lewis McNeill Road, where Hammonds was reportedly last seen. The area had been searched before.

The body was found buried in the backyard of a home in the 300 block of Lewis McNeil Road in Red Springs.

The remains were sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office for identification and cause of death.

The case remains under investigation.

"I can only imagine the pain the family and friends must feel, but I hope that this does bring some sort of closure to them," said Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins, adding "the investigation is far from over."

Wilkins said his team will revisit multiple leads and tips from 2016, when Hammonds was reported missing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Robeson County Sheriff's Office at 910-671-3100 or 910-671-3170.