A North Carolina couple died after being stabbed to death by their 17-year-old foster child, who then committed suicide, local authorities reported on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Deputies from the Hoke County Sheriff’s Department were summoned to a residence in Raeford, North Carolina, shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, in response to a cardiac arrest report, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. When the deputies arrived, they discovered two unresponsive people and began investigating the case as a homicide.
During the preliminary investigation, detectives discovered that the victims died from “multiple stab wounds,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The victims were named as Joann Nicole Chavis, 46, and Ted Matthew Chavis, 53, both of Red Springs, North Carolina. The sheriff’s office identified the couple’s foster son, identified only as “D.P.,” as the suspect in the murders.
The Hoke County and Columbus County Sheriff’s Offices, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Lake Waccamaw Police Department all tracked down the suspect in Lake Waccamaw. When authorities approached D.P., he “committed suicide from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” according to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Chavis family and everyone involved in this tragic incident,” Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil said in a statement. “We are grateful for the assistance provided by our partnering agencies throughout this investigation.”
“Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this tragic situation,” Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers stated in a statement on Tuesday, Oct. 28. “We appreciate the cooperation between agencies and are relieved that no innocent lives were harmed. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the value of communication and assistance in tough situations.”
During the search for D.P., investigators discovered his automobile near the Boys and Girls Homes campus in Lake Waccamaw, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect was not in the car, so police and the Whiteville Fire Department’s Drone Team began scouring the campus. After clearing the occupied buildings, investigators investigated the vacant buildings and discovered the suspect, “who at that point, took their own life.” According to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was transferred to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
“On the evening of October 27, an incident occurred on the Boys & Girls Homes campus involving an off-campus individual. Standard lockdown procedures were followed, and all Boys & Girls Homes youngsters and staff members are safe, according to a statement provided to WWAY. “The event is currently being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation. Thank you to local law enforcement, notably the Columbus County Sheriff’s Department and Lake Waccamaw Fire & Rescue, for keeping our employees and, more importantly, our youngsters safe. We are collaborating with the active investigation.”
PEOPLE has contacted the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina.
The case is currently being investigated, with assistance from the Hoke County District Attorney’s Office. Anyone with new information can call (910) 875-5111.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, emotional distress, substance abuse, or simply wants to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. 24/7.
