Local News

Boyfriend charged with Robeson County woman's murder

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 2022-04-01T23:04:33+00:00 - Updated 2022-04-01T23:06:07+00:00
Missing woman's boyfriend named a "person of interest"

The Robeson County Sheriff's Office on Friday arrested the boyfriend of a Robeson County woman found killed in October and charged him with her murder.

Michael Brayboy, 42, a registered sex offender, was arrested after an extensive investigation that began with the disappearance of 42-year-old Jessica Lawrence.

Lawrence, a mother of three, was initially reported missing on Oct. 12 by her family. Initially, it was believed Lawrence was last seen leaving her job at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville. Over the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Lawrence was seen at her house on Sept. 26.

Two days after Lawrence was reported missing, Brayboy was arrested during a traffic stop driving her jeep in Red Springs.

On Oct. 25, after an extensive land and air search, Lawrence's body was found in a wooded area of Rowland. Due to the condition of the body, dental records were used to make a positive ID.

Brayboy is charged with first degree murder, burning of personal property, concealing a death, altering/destroying evidence, larceny of vehicle, financial card theft, obtaining property by false pretense, felony larceny and felony conspiracy.

Brayboy is being held in the Robeson County Detention Center without bond.

“While this arrest brings some closure to the family of Jessica Lawrence, they will need our continued prayers” said Sheriff Burnis Wilkins.

The sheriff's office said the multi-agency investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 671-3100 or (910) 671-3170.

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