Locklear's white casket, adorned with colorful flowers, was carried out of the church by six men in her family. Locklear adored Michael Jackson, and throughout her funeral service, loved ones and community members talked about how much the Hope Mills girl was adored by those around her. And during the trial itself, the defense sought to portray the two young men as mere boys, caught up in their emotions and clearly not thinking or acting as themselves. The Dateline episode 'The Creek' investigates the 2014 disappearance and murder of 15-year-old Danielle "Dannie" Locklear in Hope Mills, North Carolina. Dozens of people showed up Sunday in a show of support for Danielle Locklear's grieving family. The funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at the Potters House Church. God Bless each and every one of you! The location where Danielles body was recovered was less than a mile from Malloys residence. "She wanted to touch you with her infectious smile," said Gary Stemple, an assistant principal at Southview High School where Locklear was a freshman. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and . In Locklear's obituary, the teen's involvement in Youth for Christ camp in Autryville, as well as her love for nature is highlighted. Through the speakers, Michael Jackson's Earth Song blared. "We will continue her fight.". CBS 17 reported that in May 2016, JeMichael pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized to the victims family. It noted the girl was preparing for her high school pageant, and loved Food and Nutrition class. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Danielles disappearance became national news. Danielle and JeMichael began dating in the summer of 2013 after meeting each other at a youth summer camp operated by an Autryville church. , the medical examiner confirmed that Danielle was not pregnant at the time of her death. And most of all for the 350 attendees, there were plenty of shared memories of the girl described by her pastor, Dr. Linda Baldwin, as simply an angel., The Danielle Locklear autopsy confirmed what JeMichael had told authorities: the girl died of asphyxiation either by strangling or from a sock shoved into her mouth.. Officers canvassed a nearby creek area, which teens used as a gathering place. In the pictures the reflection in Danielles eyeglasses revealed others who were present that afternoon. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Investigators were shocked to find texts in which Danielle told Malloy that she was pregnant with his baby. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Investigation Discoverys Hometown Homicide: Local Girl Gone takes us to Hope Mills, North Carolina, where on March 11, 2014, 15-year-old Danielle Locklear vanished into thin air and was reported missing when she never returned home after going out in the evening to a friends house. MAXTON Danielle Nicole Locklear, 30, of Cabinet Shop Road, died Sept. 10, 2019, at Southeastern Regional Medical Center. "She wanted others to know beyond any doubt, that she had love in her heart.". But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Je'Michael Malloy, 17, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Danielle Locklear, according to WTVD. Ways to honor DANIELLE LOCKLEAR's life and legacy. Malloy joined the efforts. Lock was brought in for questioning but he refused to speak with police. A generally happy and excitable girl, this was a rather odd shock for her family, who. After the FBI got involved in the search for Danielle, images of her were released to the media to help spark leads. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. var scJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? Investigators said JeMichael showed no emotion while confessing to Danielle Locklears murder. She gave it water and on Saturday carried it to her Nanas house. : "http://www. The two dated for under a year before breaking up, the Criminal Journal wrote. It continues to bloom and give forth berries each spring as shall Danielles short life continue to bloom and forever shower those left behind with love and goodness. About 350 people filled Fayetteville's Manna Church Saturday afternoon to bid farewell to Locklear, who went missing on March 11. When hours passed and there was no sign of her return, her anxious grandparents tried to contact her cell phone, but once they understood that their attempts to contact her were in vain, they contacted the Hope Mills Police Department and reported their grand-daughter missing. And to find out that the perpetrator, or the person who took her life allegedly is her own boyfriend, is a lot to take. Malloy met Danielle at the Autryville church youth summer camp, and in no time, the couple started dating. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". He said the two met up and Locklear told him she was pregnant, which was deemed to be false by the autopsy. The sparkling-eyed teen spending the warmer months at her grandma's house, two hours from home in idyllic Hope Mills, North Carolina, surrounded by a big loving family of grandparents and aunts. FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- The teen charged with killing 15-year-old Danielle Locklear, and dumping her body into a river, stood before a judge Wednesday in cuffs and a jumpsuit. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Police also learned from Malloys phone that he was texting with other girls the night Danielle went missing. "He doesn't confess.". A private burial will follow at the family cemetery in Sampson County. They dated less than a year before ending their relationship. Danielle Locklear and Je'Michael Malloy. Malloy and Dominic Lock, 18, now face second-degree murder charges in Locklear's death. In 2014, 15-year-old Danielle Locklear went missing from the sleepy town of Hope Mills, North Carolina. Several weeks later, the teen's body was recovered from the South River in Sampson County. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. A private burial was held in Autryville, near Locklear's Upper Room Prayer House Church. On the evening of March 11, 2014, Danielle, who at the time was a freshman at South View High School, told her grandfather that she wanted to return a book to one of her friends who lived down the street, according to The Fayetteville Observer. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Locklear's funeral is Saturday at 2 p.m. at Manna Church. Danielle Nicole Locklear, 15, of Hope Mills North Carolina, was a freshman at South View High School where she was loved by many. There was no doubt in my mind, said Servie. "She wanted to. JeMichael Devanair Malloy, left, and Dominic Lock, right. For more on this case and others like it, watch "Final Moments," airing Sundays at 7/6c on Oxygen, or stream episodes here. "She had a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh," said Danielle's . The basic facts in the case are these. When relatives found out that Danielles killer was her ex-boyfriend, they stated that they were shocked, as he was by their side throughout the whole ordeal: cooking for them, checking on their wellbeing, offering hugs, and evening liking their Facebook page: reported that in May 2016, JeMichael pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized to the victims family. Locklear family opens up about murder, fundraiser planned for memorial Friday, April 18, 2014 WTVD HOPE MILLS, N.C. (WTVD) -- Family calls the death of 15-year-old Danielle Locklear a. The Creek, the Dateline episode devoted to the Danielle Locklear murder, airs tonight at 9 on NBC. Hes walked with us on searches. The Danielle Locklear murder was widely believed to be a crime of passion when her killers were found guilty at trial. On March 11, 2014,, while her grandmother was away Danielle told her grandfather she had to go to her friend Alexis house for a quick errand around 9:45 p.m. Danielle never returned. There was a video and picture montage spanning 15 years highlighted Danielle Locklears life on two huge monitors. There was a soundtrack by Michael Jackson, who Danielle adored. There was a white casket, adorned with colorful flowers, borne from the church by six pallbearers. He said he told Dominic that Danielle Locklear was dead, and he said he needed his help in getting rid of her body, as they could both get charged with murder if they were to get caught. During the service Locklear's youth pastor, Apostle James Simmons, told the audience that Locklear's home church would soon address domestic violence through weekly seminars. During an argument with her at the creek, Malloy said he snapped and killed Danielle. Her ex-boyfriend, 17-year-old Je'Michael Malloy, would later admit to choking her to death, and having a Cape Fear High School classmate help discard her body. Stemple said she was solid academically, and encouraging to her classmates. Police say Locklear was killed the night she disappeared by her ex-boyfriend, 17-year-old Je'Michael Malloy. Cinder blocks were tied around her waist and ankles. Locklears ex-boyfriend Malloy was charged with second-degree murder because authorities said they believed the crime was committed in the heat of the moment, a crime of passion and was not premeditated, ABC11 reported. His. "When we first heard the fact that Danielle was missing, we sent a prayer alert to our members and asked them to pray and literally thousands of members in our local church prayed with you for her," said Michael Fletcher, the senior pastor of Manna Church. And then, on April 2nd, three full weeks later, a sheriffs deputy scouting a spot for some fishing found Danielles body half-submerged in the South River, miles south of where shed last been seen. Authorities responded to a call reporting Danielle missing the next day, according to, Detectives asked Malloy where he was on the night Danielle went missing. Friends and family came together to grieve and support, each other. You took that away from me. Nelson Locklear Obituary We are sad to announce that on February 24, 2023, at the age of 71, Nelson Locklear of Maxton, North Carolina passed away. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. . Were disgusted. About 350 people gathered for her funeral, ABC11 reported, where her pastor called her simply an angel. The assistant principal at Locklears high school said, She wanted to touch you with her infectious smile. "Those of us who knew Danielle knew she was simply an angel," said Dr. Linda Baldwin, a pastor in Garland, North Carolina. (Because JeMichael was 17 when he killed Danielle, he would have been ineligible for the death penalty, and instead faced life in prison.) I know sorry doesnt cut it, but I do I want to say Im really sorry. For this to occur, it is most likely that she was already asphyxiated by some mechanism such as strangulation.. Hope Mills Deputy Police Chief David Servie told True Crime Daily that he thought the cinder blocks found tied to Danielles body were unique. Were talking about a very decent young man.. Behind closed doors, they shared tears, hugs, and memories. They combed the area for the phone without success. In Locklear's obituary, the teen's involvement in Youth for Christ camp in Autryville, as well as her love for nature is highlighted. On Apr. December 21, 2022 by Danelle in Obituaries Ms. Bertha Locklear, 89, is a beloved mother, granny, and sister and was born in Robeson County, on December 7, 1933 and went to her heavenly home on Monday, December 19, 2022. "She wanted to touch you with her infectious smile," said Gary Stemple, an assistant principal at Southview High School where Locklear was a freshman. His friend Lock was also found guilty and sentenced to 6 to 8 years in prison. Malloy willingly gave his phone to detectives for forensic analysis. Through the speakers, Michael Jackson's Earth Song blared. Malloy told authorities during an interrogation that he killed her after breaking things off with her. Stemple said she was solid academically, and encouraging to her classmates. Danielle Locklear was 15 years old when she went missing and her body was found three weeks later, half-submerged in the river. When questioned, Malloy said that Danielle was having such a hard time with the breakup that he blocked her from his phone, according to investigative journalist Ana Garcia. Several weeks later, the teen's body was recovered from the South River in Sampson County. In 2016, Dominic was sentenced to at least six years in prison. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. After his arrest, JeMichael Malloy pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree, while his friend Dominic Lock plead guilty to accessory to murder. "She wanted to touch you with her infectious smile," said Gary Stemple, an assistant principal at Southview High School where Locklear was a freshman. document.write(""); We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. $5,670 raised of $20,000 goal. You ripped out my soul.. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West stated that he thinks Danielle lied about being pregnant to get his [JeMichael] attention. Another teen, Dominic Lock, is also serving time in prison for helping Malloy dispose of Locklear's body.. The next day we executed a search warrant at JeMichaels house.. The trial was a heart-breaking affair, and Danielles mother addressed Malloy in court by saying, I cant watch my baby get her high school diploma. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Due to his age at the time of the crime, he was not eligible for the death penalty. He then ran to the car about 70 yards away where his friend Dominic Lock was waiting. Copyright 2023 WTVD-TV. "Those of us who knew Danielle knew she was simply an angel," said Dr. Linda Baldwin, a pastor in Garland, North Carolina. Canes crush Caps 4-1 in Stadium Series game. The argument became violent. "I still kinda feel like she is still here, but I am waiting for her to come back," said Locklear's friend Caroline Nuzzo. [JeMichael and Dominic] have been in our home. Irene Trujillo Murder: How Did She Die? ", "She has touched thousands with her death and it will not be in vain," continued Chena Simmons, Locklear's great-aunt. During the service Locklear's youth pastor, Apostle James Simmons, told the audience that Locklear's home church would soon address domestic violence through weekly seminars. Her body was found floating in a river in Hope Mills, North Carolina, just several weeks after she went missing. Danielle Locklear was 15 years old at the time she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, JeMichael Malloy, more than five years ago. Malloy and Dominic Lock, 18, now face second-degree murder charges in Locklear's death. Its too long to reprint in full, though you can read it in its entirety here. However, by the time the trial was set to begin months later, Wests office offered a plea deal: a second-degree murder charge for JeMichael, with a minimum sentence of 25 years imprisonment. ", "She has touched thousands with her death and it will not be in vain," continued Chena Simmons, Locklear's great-aunt. The victims ex-boyfriend became the focus of the homicide case. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. It was a reunion of sadness and shock. Watch Live. Danielle Locklear Disappearance & Murder: Who Killed the 15-Year-Old? The 15-year-old Hope Mills teenager disappeared March 11 from her grandparents' home. Malloy was found guilty of second-degree murder during his trial and was sentenced to 25 to 31 years in prison for the crime. FAYETTEVILLE, NC . Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lock, too, admitted to helping his friend move Danielles body and getting rid of it, which led to his subsequent arrest on the charge of being an accessory after the fact. Locklear adored Michael Jackson, and throughout her funeral service, loved ones and community members talked about how much the Hope Mills girl was adored by those around her. She is preceded in death by her brothers: Mr. MR. ROGER DALE WILKINS February 6, 2023 by Danelle in Obituaries She was laid to rest at the Upper Room Prayer House Church cemetery in Cedar Creek, Cumberland County, North Carolina. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Hope Mills Police Department then organized volunteer search parties and began combing the town in hopes of finding Danielle. There, she mentored young children at a youth summer camp operated by an Autryville church. He doesnt confess.. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The high school freshman dated senior In the days following the discovery of her body, authorities focused their efforts on Locklears ex-boyfriend, JeMichael Malloy, 17 at the time, and his best friend Dominic Lock, the outlet wrote. In Locklear's obituary, the teen's involvement in Youth for Christ camp in Autryville, as well as her love for nature is highlighted. Locklears obituary described the South View High School freshman as a young girl who enjoyed school and indulged in foods and nutrition class, always bringing home new recipes to try out with her Grandma. She lived her life full of joy and was always smiling and laughing, it stated, something she carried with her to the youth camp where she volunteered. Then, almost three weeks after she was reported missing, an off-duty police officer found her body floating in the South River, along the Sampson/Cumberland County line, with cinderblocks tied to her waist and ankles. Locklear's white casket, adorned with colorful flowers, was carried out of the church by six men in her family. Mug shots via Cumberland County Sheriffs Office. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The teen charged with killing 15-year-old Danielle Locklear, and dumping her body into a river, stood before a judge Wednesday in cuffs and a jumpsuit. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. (Photo credits: Danielle Locklear murder via Facebook, Instagram, Cumberland County Sheriffs Office)