Edgecombe County serial killer

The Edgecombe County serial killer, also known as the Seven Bridges killer, is an as yet unidentified serial killer, in the surroundings of Edgecombe County and partly in Halifax County, in North Carolina, United States. Ten black women are missing, the remains of eight have been found, all of them fitting a similar profile of several women from Rocky Mount whose bodies were discovered within the past years, dating back to 2005.^[1][2] Each victim was black, and all had a history of drugs and or prostitution before they disappeared. Rocky Mount police Chief John Manley acknowledged to the media that authorities are dealing with a serial killer.^[3][4]

History

One of the victims, Roberta Williams, could be traced back to 2008, as it has been the last time Williams was seen alive. Her remains were discovered in 2010, off Seven Bridges Road, between Battleboro and Whitakers.^[3]

In June 2008, the sheriff's office requested assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and formed a task force of local, state and federal officials to try to find out if the killings are connected.^[5]

In January 2011, more human remains were found by a hunter in Edgecombe County, whereby this victim could be number nine. The remains have been identified in January as 37-year-old Yolanda Lancaster, who was listed as missing.^[6][7]

In September 2009, a suspect, Antwan Maurice Pittman, a registered sex offender, was charged with at least one of the cases, that one of Taraha Shenice Nicholson, 28, who was found strangled. Authorities are still questioning whether Pittman may have been connected to some of the other killings.^[2]

The first victim found was Melody Wiggins, 29, back in 2005. In 2007, Jackie Thorpe, 35, was found nude in a pile of trash. 2008, the body of Ernestine Battle, 50, was found in a wooded area. In June 2009, a farmer found the skeleton of Jarniece Latonya Hargrove, 31, also in a wooded spot.^[2]

Conviction of Antwan Pittman

On September 28, 2011 a jury convicted Antwan Pittman of first-degree murder of one of the women, 28-year-old Taraha Nicholson. Although he has never been charged in the death of any of the other alleged victims of the Edgecombe County serial killer, authorities have stated that Pittman is a suspect in at least seven of the other cases.^[8]

Public awareness

In July 2012 a motorcycle ride was held in contribution to the five women found murdered. The ride was organised to help raise awareness for the nine women in total found dead.^[9]

References