Local News

Body found in Robeson County woods ID'd as missing woman

The Robeson County Sheriff's Office on Thursday announced that a body found Monday in the woods along Highway 710 is that of Jessica Lawrence, a 42-year-old mother of three who had been missing since late September.

Posted 2021-10-28T19:55:07+00:00 - Updated 2021-10-28T19:49:00+00:00

Missing woman's boyfriend named a "person of interest"

Lawrence, who worked at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, was last seen at her home in St. Pauls on Sept. 26 when a probation officer stopped by to see her boyfriend.

The sheriff's office used Lawrence's dental records to identify her.

“(This is) not the information we wanted to hear but sadly, as expected, we have terrible news to report," Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said.

"I spoke with Jessica’s mother today and while this does bring a little relief to the family as to her being located, I can assure the public that we plan to bring the person(s) to justice that were involved in this heinous crime."

A search effort was underway in Rowland on Monday afternoon, as homicide detectives, crime scene detectives and other agents found a body while conducting a search.

Lawrence's boyfriend, Michael Brayboy, a registered sex offender, was arrested during a traffic stop while driving her vehicle on Oct. 14 in Red Springs. He is a person of interest in the case.