The
ews
Journal
it happened, it's news
50r
No. 4 Vol. 97
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Brittany’s mom to be on Montel Williams Show
Connie Chavis will talk to psychic about kidnap, murder of her jive-year-old
By Vktoriana Summi rs
Staff writer
“Mamasayssheistwelve now,” BriannaChavis,
sister of slain five-year-old Brittany l.ynn Locklear,
said sadly. “I miss my sister a lot. I have no one to
play with now.”
For Connie and Charles Chavis, mother and
stepfather of Brittany, her murder on January 8,
IW8 has never quite sunk into their conscious
ness. They constantly speak of her in the present
tense to their seven-year-old daughter, Brianna,
but tlashbacks and nightmares have taken a toll on
the couple. Mrs. Chavis has trouble holding down
a job, unaware she is gazing off in a hypnotic-like
state to ponder her daughter’s violent death.
In the unsolved homicide case — the only one
of its kind to occur in Hoke — that has been
publicized nationally, Brittany,akindcrgartenpupil
at West Hoke Elementary, is remembered for her
friendliness. She was only three feet tall and
weighed 35 pounds. Of Lumbee Indian heritage,
Brittany was always bestowing hugs and smiles to
family and friends, according to Mrs. Chavis.
Now Connie Chavis wants the world to hear
what happened to Brittany. She hopes someone
will help Hoke Sheriff Hubert Peterkin and the
State Bureau of Investigation unravel the six-year
mystery of who killed her daughter.
Chavis has been invited as a guest to appear on
the internationally televised Montel Williams
Show. She recently signed a contract with the
show’s producer to appear on an upcoming epi
sode. As yet unscheduled with a specific airdate,
Chaviswill be interviewed by the show’s producer
via telephone prior to her being flown to New York
for the TV show.
“1 am going to be on the show with the famous
psychic Sylvia Brown,” Chavis said. “She tells
people how a family member died and offers leads
to find who did it. Montel’s producer has already
had Airborne Express pick up a photograph of
Brittany for the psychic.
“I hope Sylvia Brown can help solve the case,
or someone may come forward who know who
did kill my daughter. I hope to Cod the person
may be found so we can have some closure. It
won’t bring Brittany back, but at least we can find
some peace.
‘1 am afraid that the killer might try to do
something to me because I am going on this
show,” she said.
“It is a fear I have, but 1 think the person is
basically a coward to have lived w ith what he did
to my daughter all this time.”
Brittany was abducted, sexually molested and
drowned in a drainage ditch in a field off Ryan
McBryde Road near U.S. 401 in South Hoke. She
was swooped away by an unidentified man in a
(See BRITTANY, page 5A)
X \
Brianna Chavis, sister of Brittany, and grandmother
Essie Mae Stevens show the pony swing Brittany,
above, enjoyed before her death.
ft
Applications accepted
for Iordan scholarships
page %\
Civic leader shot,
recovering
page SA
Pharmacist explains
Medicare drug benefits
page 2 A
Parks & Rec interim
director named
page 7 A
Births
...3B
Business/Farm
.. 6A
Calendar
...4B
Classifieds
...7B
Deaths
.. 7A
Editorials
.. 2A
Engagements
...3B
Legals
4-5B
Public Record
.. 5A
Religion
.. 8A
Schools
...IB
— Socials
2-3B
Sports
.. 5A
Weddings
2-3B
Hoke’s top storie
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www.thenews-journal.com
Shooting leads to tri-county chase ending in Hoke
Victim injured, allegedly kidnapped by shooter who was also shot in the scuffle
By Vktoriana Summi-rs
Staff writer
An apparently overwrought Pembroke
man confronted his stepdaughter on
Wednesday afternoon in the Kmart park
ing lot off N.C. 211 in Robeson County,
allegedly shooting her in the chest and
kidnappingherat gunpoint in hervehicle,
a 1997 Chrysler.
.After their argument, a high-speed
chase ensued through Robeson, Scotland
and Hoke counties. The pursuit contin
ued all the way into the Raeford city limit
at West Palmer Street as troopers tried to
stop the vehicle, according to N.C. High
way Patrol Trooper B.J. Walters of the
Lumberton Highway Patrol.
An Aberdeen Highway Patrol spokes
man said the beginning of the altercation
between the two people actually began in
Fayetteville, and ended when kidnapping
suspect William Eugene Ransom,
wrecked the car south of Raeford.
A passenger in the vehicle at Kmart
was able toescape prior to Ransom alleg
edly shooting stepdaughter Patrice
Locklear Chavis. He lied with her trapped
in the vehicle she was forced to drive.
“There were so many law' agencies
involved in the chase that I am not even
sure how many participated,” Walters
said. “We were the lead agency so the
Highway Patrol led the pursuit.
“I think there may be some more
charges that will be pending also from the
Hoke Highway Patrol division. It is luck
she survived after being shot.”
After being rescued seven miles out
side of Raeford by the Highway Patrol.
Red Springs resident Chavis, 27, was
transported to Southeastern Regional
Medical Center in Lumberton. She was
treated at the hospital for a small caliber
wound and later released.
The out-of-control dispute began after
Chavis had taken out a restraining order
on her stepfather. William luigene Ran
som. the |)revious day. She resided w'ith
her mother and Ransom.
"Ms. Chavis was talking when we got
her out of the car, but she was very terri
fied." Walters .said. "We calmed her
down."
Ransom was arrested by the Highway
Patrol after being apprehended in the
vehicle on N.C. 21 1 south near the South
Antioch Fire Department. Hoke Highway
Patrol trooper Perry Marshall was instru
mental in stopping the vehicle after throw
ing out stop sticks that punctured one tire.
Robeson Trooper 11. D. Smith charged
Ransom with DWI. The Lumberton Po
lice Department also later charged Ran-
(See CHASE, page 7A)
Military funeral training
Veterans learned how to conduct military funerals recently. See the story on page 3A.
Ground is broken in Hoke
for sports center complex
Youthy adults in Sandhills region to be served
By Viciorixn \ Summi ks
Staff writer
Indoor hockey and soccer are on the
way to I loke County as the county's first
sports complex is ready to be constructed
on N.C. 211 between Mcf’ain and Aber
deen. In alsothe first known venture of its
kind in the Sandhills region, the future
Sandhills Sports ('enter, a multi-million
dollar project, will be erected starting in
June.
Touted as a sports facility for all sea-
,sons, the mega athletic and recreation
center will offer an indoor climate-con
trolled environment for sports whether it
rains or shines.
With a groundbreaking already held,
the first building of two phases will be
completed inthe fall,according toCJeorge
Fredericks, co-owner of the sports facil
ity with his wife, Kristine. Owner of an
automobile restoration business in west
ern Hoke and an Internet business in
Pinehurst, Fredericks said a sports facil
ity for Hoke and the suiroundingSandhills
was long overdue.
“It is an ambitious undertaking, but we
have a wonderful teeling about it,”
Fredericks said. “We knew a sports cen
ter was needed, and we are happy to be
M/AfC SOON!!
910-944-3192
Work on a multi-million dollar sports cen
ter will begin in june.
able to provide it.
“The location in Hoke was ideal be
cause it was 15 to 20 minutes away from
the other counties, and we feel certain
Highway 211 will he widened in the fu
turc to four lanes for easy access.
“I think it will have an absolutely posi
tive impact on the Hoke community.”
Fredericks said the proximity to the
C'arolina Horse Park at Five Points was
also a favorable inducement to relocate to
SPORTS COMPLEX, page 7A)