Authorities have identified the victims and suspect involved in a double homicide that shocked Hoke County residents late last month. According to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), deputies responded around 6:04 p.m. on October 27 to a report of a cardiac arrest at a home on 1696 Cope Road in Raeford.
When they arrived, officers discovered two people dead inside the residence. The victims were identified as 46-year-old Joann Nicole Chavis and 53-year-old Ted Matthew Chavis, both of Red Springs, North Carolina. Investigators determined that both victims died from multiple stab wounds.
Detectives quickly suspected that the couple’s 17-year-old foster child, identified only as D.P., was responsible for the fatal stabbings. Following the discovery, HCSO launched an intensive search with help from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and the Lake Waccamaw Police Department.
Authorities eventually located D.P. in Lake Waccamaw, roughly 90 miles from the crime scene. The teen’s vehicle was found near the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina campus, according to the CCSO. When officers approached, D.P. shot himself, officials confirmed, according to the Raleigh News & Observer.
“The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation in Columbus County regarding the suicide,” the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The tragedy has left the community reeling. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Chavis family, and everyone affected by this tragic incident,” said Sheriff Roderick Virgil.
“We are grateful for the assistance provided by our partnering agencies throughout this investigation.” The Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina also issued a statement addressing the situation, noting that they could not comment on any juveniles “who may or may not have been in our programs of care.”
The organization emphasized that “no Boys & Girls Homes foster parents were involved in this case” and said it was “cooperating with this active investigation”, Local NBC affiliate WECT reported.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact Detective D. Austin at (910) 875-5111. The case has drawn attention for its heartbreaking nature, involving both the murder of two foster parents and the suicide of the teen suspected in their deaths — a tragedy that has left a small North Carolina community mourning deeply.