Press Releases

Craven County Sheriff's Office reports that Craven County murder suspect Dominic Connelly has been captured alive. The sheriff told WITN that Connelly was found in an abandoned building on Muddy Lane. That’s north of Vanceboro off Business U.S. 17. Sheriff Hughes says more information will be released during a 2:00 p.m. news conference. The capture came after SBI cadaver dogs were brought in this morning to help find Connelly.

On Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, 33-year-old Ryan Austin Stalls pled guilty in Beaufort County Superior Court to the following charges: (2) counts of 1st Degree Attempted Murder (Felony) The sentence for this plea is 273 – 340 months. (1) count of 1st Degree Kidnapping (Felony) (1) count of Attempted 1st Degree Forcible Sex Offense (Felony) The sentence for this plea is 127 – 213 months. These sentences will be served consecutively in the North Carolina Department of Correc

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office was made aware on an attempted scam involving people representing themselves as members of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. The person begins the conversation stating it as an "Urgent Legal Matter." Then, they present reasons for their call such as unpaid fines, warrant for arrest, fines for missed jury duty, etc. All of these are designed to get the person being called to pay money through various non-traceable means, such as pre-p

UPDATE (Nov 25, 2025 @ 08:48): William "Billy" Campbell has been located. A Silver Alert has been issued for an elderly Beaufort County man. The N.C. Center for Missing Persons is asking for the public's help in finding 79-year-old William "Billy" Campbell. Campbell is believed to be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's. Campbell is described as a white man with short, white hair and blue eyes. He is 5 feet 7 inches tall and 135 pounds. Campbell was last seen wearing a gr

Craven County fugitive Dominic Connelly was last confirmed to be hiding out in a heavily wooded area in Vanceboro. Based upon evidence and no confirmation, Connelly is still in Craven County. The Craven County Sheriff's Office has shifted their investigation from a "command-post" type manhunt to an investigative and intelligence driven fugitive case. Craven County has offered a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Connelly. Connelly was

WANTED PERSON The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office needs your help locating a wanted person. On October 27, 2025, 40-year-old Givon Montrell Hodges of Washington, NC left Superior Court in Beaufort County and failed to return. Hodges is currently out of jail on a $30,000 secured bond for Sell and Deliver Cocaine and has multiple pending felonies. After failing to return to court, Superior Court Judge Seth Edwards issued seven Orders for Arrest for Hodges and set a $1,000,000

On July 28, 2025, at approximately 10:09 a.m. the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible missing person, who resided in Chocowinity NC. The complainant reported that 60-year-old Wilson Baytala Sr. had not returned from working in Atlantic NC, and they could not reach him. Deputies learned that the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office was in contact with Baytala Sr. on July 10, 2025 and he was believed to still be in the area. The missing person case was

On Friday, January 3, 2025, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 27-year-old Carlos Lugo-Garcia and executed a search warrant on his home in Beaufort County. Deputies seized approximately 6,300 illegally pressed fentanyl pills and 614 grams of marijuana. Deputies also seized a 9mm handgun. Carlos Lone-month-longugo-Garcia was arrested and confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under $1,000,000 cash-only bond for the following charges: -(3 counts) of Level III

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing person. 45-year-old Jennifer Hollowell Watkins was last seen in the early morning hours of June 27, 2025, on VOA Rd. in Washington. Watkins was last seen wearing a teal in color t-shirt, black leggings, and flip flops. Watkins was possibly carrying a green back pack and was last known to be on foot. Sheriff Hammonds asks anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jennifer Hollowell W

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, NC, K9 Mya has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Mya’s vest was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Blitz, Wadesboro, NC – EOW 4/2/25”. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assis

On June 4, 2025, at approximately 10:41am the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an individual being robbed by two armed men outside of Hilda’s Family Country Store located on Cherry Run Road in Washington. The reporting party identified the suspects and gave a suspect vehicle description. Deputies and Detectives responded to the location to gather information from the victim and began searching for the suspect vehicle, which was described as a burgundy 202