Orange County Sheriff: Juvenile Suspect Detained in Lyric Woods, Devin Clark Murders

Fourteen days after alerting the public to having a suspect in a high-profile homicide case of two teenagers, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced it officially detained someone in connection to the murders.

A release from the office shortly before 3 p.m. on Tuesday shared that authorities detained a juvenile, who’s name is not yet revealed, over the deaths of Orange County resident Lyric Woods and Alamance County resident Devin Clark.

“We hope this apprehension provides some relief to the families and friends of Devin and Lyric, who have experienced an excruciating loss,” Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in the release. “Obviously, the capture of the suspect does not restore their loved one to them. The grieving process is a long one, and we hope the community will continue to support them in their pain.”

Woods, a 14-year-old Efland resident, and Clark, an 18-year-old Mebane resident, were separately reported missing the weekend of September 17, but family members later shared that the pair were friends. Their bodies were later found together on Sunday, September 18 near Buckhorn Road in Orange County, as men riding four wheelers spotted them. The sheriff’s office said at the time it appeared Woods and Clark had suffered gunshots wounds, although the official cause of death was still being determined by the state medical examiner.

Lyric Woods, 14. (Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.)

Devin Clark, 18. (Photo via the National Gun Violence Memorial.)

Investigators with the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies had been searching for a specific suspect they reported identifying around Tuesday, September 20. Because they are 17-years-old, North Carolina law prevents the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies from releasing information about the person. The state does not automatically try 16- and 17-year-olds as adults, meaning the case will initially go through juvenile court before likely being referred to superior court with the suggestion of trying the suspect as an adult.

Typically, cases are referred if there is a notice of indictment or the court finds probable cause for a Class A through Class G felony. First-degree murder is a Class A felony. After any potential appeal by the juvenile of a referral to superior court, law enforcement will legally be allowed to shared records of files pertaining to the case around the suspect.

Blackwood addressed the restrictions his office faces in releasing information about the suspect on Tuesday.

“We understand our community is hungry for information to help process this tragedy; however, the laws regarding juvenile confidentiality are ironclad,” the sheriff said in a statement. “We have no ability to set them aside, even given the heightened interest in this case.”

Among information unable to be immediately shared: which law enforcement agencies were responsible for the detainment of the juvenile suspect. On September 20, Blackwood said in addition to his office, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, Burlington Police Department, Efland Fire Department, the Viper Unit of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had assisted in the initial stages of the homicide case.

Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Orange County Sheriff: Juvenile Suspect Detained in Lyric Woods, Devin Clark Murders

On Air Now: 97.9 FM