Police identify woman found dead in Fayetteville woods

Family members and investigators are searching for answers after a woman's body was dumped in a Fayetteville field.

The body of Crystal Loughran, 40, was found Wednesday night in a field near Fieldcrest Street and Cedric Street. A man found the body while searching for his lost dog in a wooded area.

On Friday, yellow crime scene tape was replaced with flowers, balloons and a teddy bear where Loughran was found.

"An individual said he was looking for his dog in the area ... he walked out into the wooded area at that intersection and found a deceased female," said Alexandria Pecia, a spokesperson from the Fayetteville Police Department. "She was pronounced deceased on the scene ... so homicide began their investigation."

Neighbors said the area has a history of drugs, crime and violence, but police did not share information about how Loughran died or whether there was a person of interest.

Family members were too upset to appear on camera but told WRAL News Lougran was a wonderful woman who didn't know a stranger.

Their posts fill social media displaying outrage, grief and broken hearts.

In addition to gathering information from people who live nearby, investigators are scanning video taken by several video cameras they found in the Bonnie Doone section of town.

"There are a bunch of areas in the city that do have cameras that our crime information center has access to," Pecia said.

Investigators are hopeful video and information from the public help lead to break in the case.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Fayetteville police 910-322-7446 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.