Slain woman's boyfriend sought for questioning

Cumberland County authorities were searching Wednesday for the boyfriend of a Fayetteville woman whose body was found early Monday in Stedman.

Keith Devon Manuel, 32, of 1686 S. Reilly Road, hasn't been seen since Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. Investigators said they believe he might be trying to leave North Carolina.

Manuel is the boyfriend of Jessica Morgan-Lee, 35, whose body was found Monday morning in her SUV.

The vehicle had been parked along Shelton Beard Road in Stedman for at least two days before a concerned resident called authorities. Morgan-Lee lived on Pepperbush Drive in Fayetteville, which is 17 miles away, and friends told authorities they have no idea what she was doing there.

Her body was sent to the State Medical Examiners Office in Chapel Hill for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Investigators said they believe Manuel knows who killed Morgan-Lee and want to question him about her slaying. Although he has a past history of domestic violence, authorities haven't called him a suspect in the case.

Manuel is described as a black man, 5 feet, 11 inches tall and about 175 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes, and he has a scar on his forehead.

Anyone who knows of Manuel's whereabouts is asked to call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-323-1500.