"This investigation has changed from a missing person's report to an active homicide case," said Goldsboro Police Sgt. Dwayne Dean.
Dean said while police know McLaurin is dead, they are still searching for his body. They did not find it when they searched an area along a dirt road in a farm field near Seven Springs, which is about 20 miles from Bain Street where McLaurin was last seen on Sunday, Sept. 9.
Investigators said they were told by witnesses that McLaurin was abducted by three or four men and forced into a car in front of a housing project.
Investigators have issued murder warrants for 21-year-old Leonard Joyner, and they add that rumors floating around the community about the crime are untrue.
"The police department has identified all of the subjects involved in this case," said Dean, "and we can assure the public that this is not gang related nor was it random."
Police say they did find physical evidence related to the crime in the Wayne County farm field, but not McLaurin's body.
They say tips from the public helped solve this crime and they hope more tips will help them locate McLaurin's body.
I was hoping for a different outcome.
