Edgecombe County serial killer

The Edgecombe County serial killer, also known as the Seven Bridges Killer, is a yet unidentified serial killer in the surroundings of Edgecombe and Halifax counties in North Carolina, United States. There are ten suspected victims, all African-American women, and the remains of eight have been recovered. Officers suspect that Antwan Maurice Pittman, a registered sex offender charged with a murder fitting a similar profile, was responsible for the Edgecombe deaths.[1][2] All of the victims had a history of drugs and/or prostitution.[3]

History

In June 2008, the sheriff's office requested assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and formed a task force of local, state and federal officials to try to find out if the killings are connected.

In 2010, the remains of Roberta Williams, missing since 2008, were discovered off Seven Bridges Road between Battleboro and Whitakers, North Carolina.[3] In January 2011, a hunter found more human remains in Edgecombe County. The remains were 37-year-old Yolanda Lancaster, who was listed as missing.[4][5]

In September 2009, a suspect, Antwan Maurice Pittman, a registered sex offender, was charged with at least one of the cases, Taraha Shenice Nicholson, 28, who was found strangled. Authorities are still questioning whether Pittman may have been connected to some of the other killings.[2]

The first victim found was Melody Wiggins, 29, back in 2005. In 2007, Jackie Thorpe, 35, was found nude in a pile of trash. 2008, the body of Ernestine Battle, 50, was found in a wooded area. In June 2009, a farmer found the skeleton of Jarniece Latonya Hargrove, 31, also in a wooded spot.[2]

Conviction of Antwan Pittman

On September 28, 2011, a jury convicted Antwan Pittman of first-degree murder of one of the women, 28-year-old Taraha Nicholson. Although he has never been charged in the death of any of the other alleged victims of the Edgecombe County serial killer, authorities have stated that Pittman is a suspect in at least seven of the other cases.[6]

Public awareness

In July 2012, a motorcycle ride was held in contribution to the five women found murdered. The ride was organised to help raise awareness for the nine women found dead who are suspected to be victims of the Edgecombe killer.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Erickson, Jon (October 23, 2010). "Human Remains Found In Halifax County". WCTI 12. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Kotz, Pete (September 2, 2009). "Antwan Maurice Pittman: Have Police Caught a Serial Killer in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?". True Crime Report.
  3. 1 2 "Rocky Mount police chief suspects serial killer in deaths". WRAL. March 31, 2010.
  4. ↑ McDonald, Thomasi (January 12, 2011). "Remains found where others discovered". Newsobserver. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ "NEW INFO: Human Remains Found In Edgecombe County Woods". WITN. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Pittman found guilty in missing Rocky Mount woman's death". WRAL. September 29, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Motorcyclists ride for Edgecombe Co. murder victims". ABC 11. July 27, 2012.
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