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Arrest made in double murder
by Amy Banton, Staff Writer
10 months ago | 3210 views | 16 16 comments | 47 47 recommendations | email to a friend | print
LUMBERTON — A Pembroke man who was already in jail in Cumberland County was charged Tuesday with the murders of a woman and her teenage daughter in July. The victims were relatives of the accused, according a sheriff’s detective.

Luther Wilton Locklear, 31, of 318 Blossom Drive, Pembroke, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Delilah Locklear, 51, and Erica Locklear, 13, on July 12. Their bodies were discovered in the bedroom of their mobile home after a fire was reported there. Autopsies showed that they died of stab wounds, and not the fire.

Locklear was a distant cousin of Delilah, according to sheriff’s Lt. Tom Espey,

According to Espey, Locklear has not been charged with arson because investigators “are not sure of the origin of the fire.”

A fire and death investigation conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Sheriff’s Office led to the charges against Locklear. Sheriff Kenneth Sealey said interviews and evidence collected led to Locklear’s arrest.

Locklear was in jail in Cumberland County awaiting trial on charges of second-degree kidnapping, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and larceny after breaking and entering. Sealey said that he and his cousin, Otoma Locklear, 33, stole crack cocaine from James Taylor of Lumberton during an illegal drug transaction on Aug. 15.

Locklear was being held in the Cumberland County jail rather than Robeson County because he is relatd to Otoma Locklear, according to Sealey. He said relatives are usually kept in separate facilities.

Locklear on Tuesday was returned to Robeson County, where he was arrested and charged with the murders. He is being held under no bond. His first court appearance was on Wednesday.

On July 12, a fire was reported at Delilah Locklear’s mobile home at 171 Lonnie Farm Road in Pembroke. When lawmen arrived at about 10:25 p.m., they found two bodies in a bedroom. Sealey said that both were dead before the fire was started. The fire only destroyed the bedroom of the mobile home.

Erica was a student at Pembroke Middle School and Delilah, who was disabled, was a former teacher’s assistant. Nobody else lived in the home.

Delilah was the sister of sheriff’s Detective Lt. Reggle Strickland. He did not want to comment on the arrest.

Locklear was placed on probation in 2001 for a year and six months for three counts of larceny, according to the North Carolina Department of Correction.

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comments (16)
« Frustrated wrote on Saturday, Oct 31 at 06:12 PM »
Community Resident: I agree with what you say about this not being a one man job. I have heard that there were two men involved with this case.

Faithful09: I have lived in Robeson County all of my life, but I do not remember the case you are talking about. I would assume that most people who do post on here are from Robeson County. Also, just because we are humans and we sin does NOT excuse a person from stabbing and burning two people! Get over yourself and stop throwing around religion as an excuse for a disgusting act of a "human." I am assuming from the tone of your comment that you know this person. Of course his family is going to think he is innocent. What mother does not think her children are perfect and would not harm anyone or anything? I can hardly recall one that I personally know.

BeCarefulWhatYouSay: Sounds like you also know the accused. I don't think the Sheriff's department would go around arresting people for fun, or because they need someone to take the blame for a case. For a man that was in the Robesonian a few months ago before for stealing crack cocaine, kidnapping, larceny, and assault with a deadly weapon is hardly a good person in my eyes. I don't care where he's from, who is family is, or what he's got. If he can do all those things with no conscience, then I'm sure he would set fire to two people with no problem.
« Community Resident wrote on Friday, Oct 30 at 11:32 AM »
THIS IS MY OPINION: I live in the Mt. Airy community & have all my life. I knew both the victims & I know the accused young man (since he was a small child). YES, this is devastating & very emotional for our community. The only thing WE want to see done is justice served & questions answered. I am not at liberty to point fingers at anyone BUT I would hope that our Sheriff’s Department (with the help of the SBI) would have hard evidence against Luther Locklear before they would have charged him with two counts of first-degree murder. I know how hard both the Sheriff’s Department & the SBI have worked on this case therefore I can honestly make the assumption that arresting Luther is the ONE KEY of many to having all the answers as to why this happened to Delilah & Erica. YES, Luther has a mother, father, and family that loves him very much BUT Delilah & Erica did as well. I have prayed since July 12th that the truth & mystery of all of this would come to light because we all know GOD knows all about it. There is nothing HE does not see us do! Based on the evidence & facts it’s clear to see this was not a “one man” job. YES, there is more to what happened on July 12th than what has been told to the public BUT as everything unfolds the Robesonian will make the public aware of it. My heart goes out to both families because we all live in the same community & in a time like this our community should be able to comfort each other without hesitation. For the mothers of Delilah (Mrs. Edith), little Erica (Delilah RIP), & Luther (Ms. Donna Lena)… I have often said a mother's love can be broken down into the 3 P's: Pleading, Persistence, and Prayer. A mother will PLEAD for her child, PERSISTENCE defines a mother as we have a God-given talent to stay on something, no matter how long it takes, to get the job done. If persistence defines a mother, then PRAYER is her greatest weapon. In Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. God Bless you all!

« PercyKution wrote on Friday, Oct 30 at 10:08 AM »
Thank you Mr. Douglas and "The Robesonian" for keeping the people of Robeson County informed and aware. You've done more for Robeson County than any elected official we have. Or probably ever will have for that matter.
« robesonian wrote on Friday, Oct 30 at 09:19 AM »


Anonymous,

You can always call me and ask why comments are not posted or are edited. I don't have the power to censor, only the government does, but no one has a right to post on this site. We try to be liberal in what we allow.

My number it (910) 272-6104. The invitation is for anyone with questions.

Donnie Douglas

Editor

The Robesonian
« anonymous wrote on Friday, Oct 30 at 08:03 AM »
Sheesh Donnie, what is up with the censorship on the website? This may be my third submission to get blocked. We will see.

B4real: Read the article. Again. Delilah is the sister of Reggie Strickland, a detective with the sheriff’s department. That is a huge motivating factor to solve a crime. For the most part, we all like to help co-workers and friends any way we can and make sure something is done correctly.

Cumberland County didn’t catch Luther. Robeson County did. He’s ONLY being held there because his COUSIN is in the Robeson County jail. Again, re-read the article. He is in there for allegedly stealing CRACK COCAINE. Do yourself a favor and search the cousins name in the search feature for the Robesonian. You will find an article that shows the two of them were arrested for armed robbery.

Faithful09: I don’t think they would issue an arrest warrant without proof of some type of connection to the crime. I don’t know about the Mr. Noody Locklear murder, but if the guy walked away due to a technicality error due to the department, that’s not to be excused. Let’s look at the flip side, you are inferring that the community thought the accused person did it and the sheriff’s office apparently had evidence that he committed the crime, thus an arrest warrant. He did walk due to their negligence. However, an arrest warrant would indicate that there is enough PROOF to charge someone with a crime. He might have walked (which is horrible), but they did have proof which in essence validates the suspicions of the community. I would think the same concept applies to this case also.

belleinrobco

« faithful09 wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 10:31 PM »
To all of you making these posts and sentencing the “accused” to death, you should step back and take a look at yourself. None of us are perfect and God said that sin has no measure. Also, our court system says that you are innocent until proven guilty. This child has a mother too, and how do you think it makes her feel to read that someone is calling her son “IT”? I too, was terribly moved by this crime. Being that I am local, I contacted my alarm company that week, to protect my family and myself. But, to automatically assume that this “arrest” is the ONE person who committed this crime, would be quite ignorant. If you live in the community, you would know…….Just wait; hopefully it will all be revealed. The Strickland/Locklear family does deserve to see justice served and have peace, but this case is not closed!!!!!

Obviously, none of you are from this county or even that community or you would remember a Mr. “Noody” Locklear’s murder a few years back. His wives grandson committed that murder and EVERYONE in the community was knowledgeable of that fact. But due to this great, commendable Sheriff’s Department we have, that MURDERER walked, due to a technicality on the Sheriff Departments behalf!!! So, I wouldn’t be counting my chicks before the hatched, assuming that he will be found guilty and sentenced.

« becarefulwhatyousay wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 10:26 PM »
To whom this may concern and all the readers. This boy you are talking about has a family that belives in his innocense. Until you have all the evidence that you need to say that someone is guilty you don't need to convict them. How does everyone know that he has not been set up by someoneelse so that he may take the fall for something he didn't do. Everyone has to realize that yes there has been a great loss, but you don't just send somenone to jail until he has been proven guilty without a shadow of a doubt. Always think before you speak this could be your family member that everyone seems to be so against without knowing all the details. So many more people could also be suspects if the law does their job right. Jesus is in control of everything and the truth will prevail.
« PercyKution wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 09:01 PM »
TO RClady: Thank you for pointing out my error. I've been extremely upset about these two murders since the morning a friend of mine called me and told me what had happened. These two cold-bloodied killings have bothered me worse than any since what I have always believed, and always will, was a contract "hit" and cover-up on poor old Julian Pierce years ago. But I think stabbing someone to death is far worse than just shooting them. You see, anybody can get just twitch their finger and pull a trigger, but when you stab someone, you have to CONSCIOUSLY raise that arm over and over and over and bring that blade down into another person's body. You know EXACTLY what you're doing. And to do such a thing to some poor Mother and her little 13 year old child......I just don't know what else to think or say. I was hoping against hope that Reggie would get to the killer first, but it didn't happen. And I still stand by every single thing I said in my first post. The whole thing is just heartbreaking.
« belleinrobco wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 08:49 PM »
I think you also need to distinguish between detectives who work the cases and the jailers. It takes a lot more brains to solve these cases than it does to lock doors, shackles, etc. So there are problems in certain divisions of the department, but they got this one right. I know for a fact these guys (sheriff's and SBI) went door to door in the community asking questions, numerous trips to the crime scene and spent hours on this case. Let's not continually knock the department down if strides are being made.

belleinrobco
« Frustrated. wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 07:45 PM »
I am SO thankful this man was caught and behind bars. I knew some of the family of this little girl and her mother and they were devastated. This murder was disgusting, and I could agree with Percy more. I have to say that I am impressed and surprised they gave him no bond. He doesn't deserve a bond, nor does he deserve food, water, or air. Now, the interesting thing will be his sentence. I am praying he doesn't get just a slap on the wrist, but that he is sentenced to rot in jail.
« DaveD wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 07:01 PM »
Percy, one the best comments I've ever read on events in Robeson County. I couldn't have said it better myself.
« RClady wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 06:35 PM »
Percy-Not that this is any better, but they were stabbed, not shot.

I really want to know why he or anyone would do something like this.
« b4real wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 05:49 PM »
To belleinrobco: Why are you thanking the Robeson County sheriff's department? They had nothing to do with the capture of this perp. Thank goodness the criminal is locked up in Cumberland County. This killer needs to be put to death. Go ahead and add arson to the charges. He was trying to destroy the evidence. Or do you think that the fire started accidentally after the murders took place. Come on, b4real...
« PercyKution wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 04:40 PM »
IT should have never made it to the jail alive. I knew that woman and that little girl and there's not the least bit of sense wasting time on a "trial" so some scumbag (spit) lawyer can line thier pockets defending this THING. In almost 60 years in Robeson County, these two murders are two of the worst I've ever heard of or seen. Yes, there have been some horrible murders here, but this was a little girl and her Mama just shot down for NOTHING and their home set on fire. It's a shame somebody didn't just blow the THING'S brains out on the spot as soon as they knew he was the one that did it. I would have been glad to do it.
« anonymous wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 02:10 PM »
Many thanks to the Sheriff's Department and the SBI.

belleinrobco
« Southern Yankee wrote on Thursday, Oct 29 at 01:40 PM »
Let's hope that the sheriff's department can keep him in jail - I fell safer if he's locked up in Cumberland - at least he "won't escape" from that jail. I have lost all my confidence in our sheriff's department and don't fell they can keep me safe if something happened and I needed their help.
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