The Orange County District Attorney's office confirmed that Issiah Ross, the young man charged with the 2022 murders of two teenagers, maintained his innocence with a not guilty plea during his arraignment this past Tuesday. The case, which involves the tragic deaths of Devin Clark, 18, and Lyric Woods, 14, is set for a jury trial on October 27, as reported by WRAL News.
Ross, 19, stood trial in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs but remained silent as his attorney, Jonathan Trapp, entered the plea for him. Nearly three years ago, Clark and Woods' bodies were detected by a group on ATVs in a field off Buckhorn Road, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The case has since gathered significant attention with Ross being charged as an adult, despite being 17 at the time of the crime.
A pivotal point in the investigation arrived when a source close to the case disclosed to WFMY News 2 that Ross attended school with Clark and was known to the victim.
In previous court appearances, the defense acknowledged that Ross had indeed picked up the teens but suggested a struggle over a gun belonging to Clark's father led to the shooting, according to information obtained by The News & Observer. During the hearing, details emerged about the victims' final moments. Assistant District Attorney Anna Orr reportedly said that Clark and Woods were running for their lives when they were shot. "They were shot while running for their lives," Orr stated, suggesting an execution-style killing. The sentiment echoed in the courtroom where friends and family of Woods have consistently marked their presence. In the last hearing, details about the crime scene were revisited, with investigators finding 13 9 mm shell casings and "significant blood droplets" on the gravel near where the bodies were discovered.
The community still awaits answers as the trial date approaches, with hopes that justice for the lives of two young individuals who were taken too soon will be served. Some details of the case remain unclear, while the motive behind the murders has yet to come to light.
