BURLINGTON, NC – When someone is taken from you, so suddenly, you wish you could have one more conversation with them. What would we say? A final good-bye? A final I love you?
What if that person was murdered and the killer was still unknown? Maybe, if we could speak to the victim one more time, they could tell us what happened, who killed them and why.
The final conversation can’t happen; leaving police and family wondering, searching and hoping to catch the killer.
In 2015, a former businessman and father, Charles Groome, AKA, Chip, was found brutally murdered in his home. Someone beat him to death on or around January 26th; his body was found in his 7th Street duplex in Burlington.
“What happened to him should have never happened,” said Lisa Groome, Chips’ only daughter.
“What makes this case unique is we have to rebuild his life. They may not have been any eyewitnesses,” said Master Police Officer Josh Light, the investigating officer for the Burlington Police Department. “If you look at Chip, he was that good person.”
Chip lived in North Carolina his entire life, most of it was spent in Burlington. The natural born teacher started a job placement business in the 1980s, and was well-loved and well-supported by his community. As much as he loved to work; play was an important part of his life.
“He loved fishing, he loved reading,” said Lisa.
Lisa and her father shared a special bond. The father-daughter duo shared a birthday and spent every one of them together. Lisa said her father taught her a lot.
“Say you needed to fix something, you could call him or talk to him and he could show you how to do it,” Lisa said.
Chip taught his daughter how to play pool when she was a young girl, around the age of seven. The day the student surpassed the teacher remains one of her favorite memories.
“One time when I came to visit him, I said let’s go shoot a game of pool and so we went to shoot and we were playing and then this guy wanted to play us for 5 dollars,” Lisa explained. “I won and I remember him being so proud that I had beat someone at a game of pool which he had taught me.”
Tears ran down Lisa’s face as she remembered the pool stick he gave her for a present; a pool stick she still has to this day.
During her interview, Lisa paused several times, to cry over the father she lost.
“He was a really strong bear hugger where it took your breath away. He would always tell me how much he loved me,” cried Lisa.
But, Chip won’t have the chance to tell his daughter he loves her anymore.
The murder of Chip is not quite a cold case, but without any further information to match evidence police gathered, it could soon become one.
“We’ve received very few tips throughout the investigation,” said Light.
Light shared what details he could of the case with WFMY News 2’s Hope Ford. Leading up to his murder, Chip ate at restaurants in his neighborhood and took a walk around his neighborhood on Avon, South Mebane and 7th Streets in Burlington. Footprints were found in blood surrounding his body and he had defensive wounds to his face.
Light said the senseless murder baffled him in the early stages of the investigation. It’s also unclear if Chip was killed during the late night of January 25th or the early morning. A motive for the crime remains unknown.
“We have to look at different reasons as to why that may have occurred. What would be a reason behind that? Why would someone want to do that?” Light questioned.
It’s possible someone in Chip’s old neighborhood knows a small detail.
“Maybe it’s a vehicle going through that area at a particular time or someone saw someone they didn’t recognize.”
What was keeping people from sharing information with police? Light answered, “You have to look at it as they live in that community. Is it a fear of coming forward? It may be.”
Police wouldn’t elaborate on a person on interest in the case. Light would only say the killer is most likely still in Burlington to this day.
Meanwhile, his daughter continues to mourn his loss and wonder why someone would take him from her.
Lisa said, “I can’t ever call him again. I’m going to miss his hugs.”
A $5,000 reward is being offered for any information in the murder of Charles “Chip” Groome. Call Crimestoppers (336) 229-7100