Late Sunday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported the discovery of two bodies in western Orange County. On Monday, the office shared the believed identities of the victims and confirmed it is investigating the case as a homicide.

A release shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Monday said investigators “have information that suggests” the bodies are that of 14-year-old Efland resident Lyric Woods and 18-year-old Mebane resident Devin Clark. The pair were found about 24 hours earlier off of Buckhorn Road.

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said while his office’s investigators are still waiting on a report from the North Carolina Medical Examiner, he’s confident enough to share the identities, as both teenagers were reported missing over the weekend.

“Although we do not have that confirmation yet,” he said, “in the absence of any other missing persons matching the descriptions of the individuals located, the tragic but logical conclusion is increasingly clear. This loss is devastating for the victims’ families and friends, and indeed for the entire community.”

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office shared a social media post asking for details about Woods’ whereabouts Saturday night, after family members reported her missing earlier that morning. According to the missing persons report, Woods’ family reported last seeing her late on Friday night before discovering she was not at home the following morning.

Clark, who is an Alamance County resident, was entered into the National Crime Information Center index on Sunday afternoon.

Two men discovered the bodies on a power line easement just before 3:00 p.m. while riding four-wheelers on a trail, according to a prior release from the office. On Sunday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the bodies appeared to be for a Black male and white female under the age of 20 — but refrained from potential identification until confirmation with family members.

The Orange County Schools district shared an alert to students and families on Monday afternoon, since Woods was a first-year student at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough. It read:

“Our hearts are with all of Lyric’s family and everyone who knew her, including many at Orange High, Gravelly Hill Middle, and Efland-Cheeks Global Elementary.

Administrators have spent today speaking with the family, supporting our schools, and working closely with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as state and local agencies continue their investigation.

Counselors and support services have been in schools since early today (Monday) to assist students and staff with whatever is needed, and we will continue to provide support for as long as needed.”

No official cause of death has been established yet by the Medical Examiner’s Office, but Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Monday morning that the victims appeared to have gunshot wounds. The homicide investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office, and more details will be released as they become available. Anyone who may have information regarding the case, including Woods and Clark’s whereabouts after Friday night, are encouraged to contact Investigator Keith Goodwin at 919-245-2918.

While law enforcement waited to identify the two bodies, family members of the two teenagers shared posts about their deaths on Sunday evening. GoFundMe pages for funeral costs for each Woods and Clark were established by family and friends on Monday.

 

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated on the afternoon of Monday, September 19, to reflect the latest information shared by local law enforcement.

 

Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

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