Two more charged in slaying of St. Pauls man

Hoke County sheriff’s investigators on Monday arrested two more suspects in the death of Tayvon Joseph McMillan, whose body was found April 6 on Fort Bragg.

Dejour Peterson and Della Locklear, both 17 and a couple from Raeford, were each charged with first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon and larceny of a motor vehicle.

They were each held under $1 million secured bonds and scheduled to make first court appearances Tuesday.

Joel Thornton, 23, and Jaquan C. Peterson, 19, were charged over the weekend and face the same counts and offenses. They also were given $1 million bonds.

Investigators said Jaquan C. Peterson and Dejour Peterson are brothers. All four suspects live at 133 Utah Street in Raeford.

McMillan's mother, Sharonda McMillan, said Monday she cannot believe what she's learning about the death of her son. She said she recognized Thornton’s name from a recent Facebook post.

“He posted on his Facebook page, a couple of days ago, ‘Rest in Peace, Tayvon,’ as if he was concerned or had some type of sympathy,” she said.

Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said in a statement that McMillan was lured to a home on Sundance Drive, in the Somerset subdivision off Hobson Road in Raeford, on April 4 and attacked by several people before he was taken to Plank Road on the post, where he was killed.

Sharonda McMillan said she last saw her son about 7:15 p.m. the night he disappeared. He told her he was going to see his girlfriend in Fayetteville.

Sources have told WRAL News that it appears auto theft was a motive in the crime.

“I wish he would have given it to them,” said Christopher Letlow, Tayvon McMillan’s father. “You know, we could have brought you another car – two cars if that’s the case. Gave you my car, if that’s what (you want). You feel what I’m saying?

“You can buy plenty of cars. I can’t buy another son,” he said.

The family said knowing what happened does little to ease their pain.

"It won’t be no closure until everybody – and I say everybody – associated with this crime is in jail,” Sharonda McMillan said.

Sources said two other people had been lured to the home on Sundance Drive, and the suspects are believed to have set the house on fire to hide evidence.