ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. — 17-year-old suspect, Issiah Mekhi Ross, appeared in court today.
Orange County officials identified the 17-year-old suspect in connection with the murder of two teens a week ago. District Attorney Jeffrey Nieman said the teen will be tried as an adult.
Ross is accused of killing Devin Clark and Lyric Woods in September. He's being held without bond in a juvenile facility.
Tuesday was Ross' first appearance in Superior Court after transfer from juvenile court. The hearing Tuesday was an opportunity for Ross' attorney, Jonathan Trapp, to make his appearance as the attorney official in superior court and schedule future hearings.
Two motions were made Tuesday. Trapp, on behalf of the defendant, made a motion to be heard as to bond. District Attorney, Jeffrey Nieman, said that is something both parties have a chance to prepare for so they agreed that they would continue to have that heard next month.
The other motion was the return of some property. That will also be heard next month. DA Nieman says it's fairly common in a case for items to be seized in the collection of evidence, and there may be a reason for a party to say if the property isn't necessary for the case, can it be returned to the rightful owner.
The case is set for the administrative setting of December 13th when the two motions will be heard.
Ross is expected to be present for future hearings.
"We are very aware of the importance to both the families involved and the greater community of this case and we understand why it is important," Nieman explained after the hearing.
The sheriff's office said ATV riders found the bodies of Clark and Woods in the woods in western Orange County on September 18.
Clark was a senior and football player at Eastern Alamance High School. Woods was a freshman at Cedar Ridge High School.
“A juvenile petition was secured for Ross (determining) him as a suspect by processing the crime scene and surrounding area,” Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said. “These efforts led investigators to believe that Ross is responsible for the death of Clark and Woods.”
Investigators said Ross ran away to Delaware late Sunday, September 18 - the day Clark and Woods' bodies were found. Two people have been charged with harboring him.
“Several days after his apprehension, Ross arrived in North Carolina and entered the juvenile facility in another county,” Blackwood said.
The investigation is now in the hands of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators haven't said a motive in the killings.
Ross is still being held without bond and the case will continue until December 13.