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Press Releases
Formal statements issued by the Sheriff’s Office to announce or clarify information related to crimes, investigations, and significant organizational news
Missing Person Located
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
Nov 25, 2025
Craven County Manhunt Transitions to Intelligence-led Effort
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
Nov 12, 2025


Wanted Person Givon Hodges
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
Oct 28, 2025
Missing Person Located
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
Jul 31, 2025


Multi-Agency Operation Leads to Seizure of Thousands of Deadly Pressed Fentanyl Pills
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
Jul 3, 2025


Missing Person: Jennifer Hollowell Watkins
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
Jul 3, 2025


Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office K9 Mya has received a donation of body armor
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
Jul 3, 2025
Two Brothers Arrested for Armed Robbery
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
Jul 3, 2025
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