A year removed from the murder of two local high school students, Orange County authorities are still seeking justice in their case. And this weekend, they are also seeking justice over vandalism of a hand-made memorial in their honor.

A release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Friday alerted the public to Lyric Woods’ and Devin Clark’s memorial — made by Woods’ grandfather at the site of their shooting — was discovered to have been tampered with by visitors.

“Sunday is the anniversary of Devin and Lyric’s death. Sadly, one or more persons did not treat the site with the respect it deserves,” said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. “I am offering a $3,500 reward for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of the person or persons who committed this crime.”

Lights illuminate a memorial for Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, in Orange County on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. (Photo via Kaitlin McKeown/The News & Observer.)

The memorial, which consisted of a wooden cross, lights and several flowers, lay at a gravel road off Buckhorn Road in western Orange County where Woods and Clark’s bodies were found on September 18. The pair of teenaged friends — Woods was 14 and Clark was 18 — were reported missing earlier in the weekend by their respective families and ultimately discovered by four-wheeler riders using a nearby trail.

While the Orange County community frantically searched for any available public details on to what may have happened, investigators eventually identified a 17-year-old suspect and saw him transported back to the area after he had fled to Delaware. Issiah Mehki Ross, a Mebane resident, was later charged with two counts of first-degree murder and saw his case moved from juvenile court to superior court — allowing the prosecution to try him as an adult.

In court, the Orange County District Attorney’s office revealed that evidence from the scene of the crime off Buckhorn Road indicates both Woods and Clark were shot several times outside of a vehicle the trio of teenagers had shared to drive to the area. Residents who lived in the area reported hearing gunshots in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 17, according to the prosecution. No direct motive was shared, but Ross’ bond motion was denied in January and the judge ruled the vehicle where investigators collected evidence from would continue to be impounded.

As of the one-year anniversary of the fatal shootings, Ross remains in the Orange County Detention Center on the charges. Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman has stated his office will not seek the death penalty for the teenager, but Ross could face life in prison if found guilty.

The sheriff’s office said Friday that anyone with information about the vandalism of the memorial off Buckhorn Road is asked to call Investigator Keith Goodwin at 919-245-2918.

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