More than 10 years after an 18-year-old North Carolina woman disappeared, authorities have arrested three people, including her stepmother, as the investigation continues.

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office announced on June 25 that Connie Graham was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the disappearance of Sara Graham.

Connie Graham also faces charges of altering, stealing, or destroying criminal evidence, as well as two counts of felony conspiracy. Authorities also arrested Bobby Matthew McLellan and Luke Locklear, who were identified by local media as Connie Graham’s sons. McLellan additionally faces a charge of accessory after the fact.

Investigators said they are not releasing all of the evidence that led to the arrests because the investigation remains ongoing.

Sara Graham was last seen on February 4, 2015, at her home in Fairmont. Later that day, her van was found abandoned in a field along East McDonald Road.

Although her body has never been found, Sara was legally declared deceased on June 1, 2026, under North Carolina law, which allows a missing person to be presumed ᴅᴇᴀᴅ after seven consecutive years without contact.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to offer a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the discovery of Sara’s remains.

Burnis Wilkins said that despite the pᴀssage of time, investigators never stopped working the case. He expressed hope that the arrests would bring some measure of comfort to Sara’s loved ones and emphasized that the pursuit of justice had never ended.

Following the arrests, Sara’s mother, Catherine L. Armenta, released a statement through her attorney describing the past 11 years as deeply painful. She said that seeking a court order to have her daughter declared deceased was one of the most difficult decisions the family had ever faced and renewed her plea for anyone with information about Sara’s disappearance to come forward.

According to local reports, Connie Graham was denied bond during her initial court appearance, while McLellan and Locklear are each being held on $1 million secured bonds as the case proceeds.

Source: People