More than three years after a man was found shot to death on Cemetery Road in Riegelwood, North Carolina authorities say they have finally made an arrest. Terrell Demond White has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the July 21, 2023, killing, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Columbus County deputies responded to 805 Cemetery Road on July 21, 2023, after a report of a deceased man, according to WCTI. Deputies found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the station reported. WCTI, along with WECT and WWAY, identified the victim as Tracey Lovell Taylor, while CBS 17 reported the name as Tracey Lovell White — a discrepancy that remains unresolved across the available reporting.
Deputies requested assistance from the SBI in investigating the homicide, per the station's report. White was booked into the High Point Detention Center, though the case sat unresolved for years before agents moved on a suspect.
Two Men Already Charged in Connection With the Killing
White's arrest comes after the Columbus County Sheriff's Office announced charges against two other men in September 2023, according to the same WECT report. Tamrick Jamar Hobley and Trequan Lakeithan Age were accused of involvement in an armed robbery that the sheriff's office said resulted in Taylor's murder that July, as reported by WWAY.
Hobley was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery of a business person, and a probation violation, WWAY reported. Age faced charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery of a business person and accessory after the fact. Hobley was given a $50,000 bond, while Age received no bond, according to the outlet's account.
Conflicting Details on White's Court Date
Reporting diverges on when White is expected to appear in court. WECT reported that White was booked and scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday, Oct. 30, while CBS 17's seed reporting indicated a Columbus County court appearance set for Nov. 18. Neither account has been independently reconciled with court records provided to Hoodline.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the SBI said no additional information was available, per the same WCTI account. Authorities have not detailed what, if any, connection exists between White's charge and the earlier robbery-related charges against Hobley and Age.
