Connie Graham, 65, was arrested Thursday and charged with murder in connection with the presumed death of her stepdaughter, 18-year-old Sara Graham, who was last seen alive more than a decade ago in Fairmont, North Carolina.
Sara Graham was declared dead on June 1. Her body has never been found.
Background
According to the FBI, Sara Graham was last seen alive on Feb. 4, 2015. Police said she left the family home around 6:30 a.m. in a white van to drive to her job at Walmart. She never made it to work, and the van was found abandoned in a field.
Connie Graham, who is married to Sara's father Hubert Graham, was employed as a deputy with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office at the time of Sara's disappearance. She was fired after her stepdaughter went missing. Hubert Graham is also a former deputy and currently serves as chief of the Rowland Police Department.
In North Carolina, a person can be declared legally dead if they have not been heard from for seven years. After Sara was declared dead at the request of her biological mother, Hubert Graham told ABC affiliate WPDE that he believed she was still alive.
The Robeson County Sheriff's Office and FBI worked together in 2023 on a new search of Connie Graham's home after receiving fresh leads on Sara Graham's disappearance.
The Investigation
Police said Connie Graham's two sons, 42-year-old Bobby Matthew McLellan and 29-year-old Luke Locklear, were also arrested and charged with conspiracy and altering or destroying evidence. McLellan was additionally charged with accessory after the fact.
The arrest warrant for McLellan stated that he allegedly helped to dispose of human remains. The warrant for Locklear stated that he allegedly 'assist[ed] in burning evidence.'
Connie Graham appeared in court on Thursday and is being held in the Robeson County Detention Center without bond. McLellan and Locklear are being held on $1 million bond each.
Key Takeaways
- Sara Graham was 18 years old when she disappeared on Feb. 4, 2015, after leaving for a Walmart shift
- Connie Graham, her stepmother and a former Robeson County Sheriff's deputy, has been charged with murder
- Two of Connie's sons have been arrested: Bobby Matthew McLellan, 42, and Luke Locklear, 29
- Sara was declared legally dead on June 1; her body has never been recovered
- The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the location of Sara Graham's remains
What's Next
All three defendants are scheduled to appear in court again on July 2. The investigation remains active as authorities continue searching for Sara Graham's body.
The Robeson County Sheriff's Office stated that officials were not releasing further information about what led to the arrests.