Raleigh police make arrest in 1996 homicide

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Thursday, December 18, 2014
Raleigh police make cold case arrest
Edwin Christopher Lawing appears in court.

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Police have arrested and charged 40-year-old Edwin Christopher Lawing in connection with the death of Lacoy McQueen on May 17, 1996.

McQueen was a 20-year-old Shaw University student when she disappeared. Her remains were later found in March 1997 when construction workers discovered human remains off U.S. Highway 1 near Kittrell.

Days later, police charged Lawing, who was a student at N.C. State University at the time, with McQueen's murder. However, the charge was later dismissed.

After additional testing was performed on the evidence, the Wake County District Attorney's Office decided to reconsider prosecution of Lawing.

The case was presented to the Wake County Grand Jury on Dec. 15, and a true bill of indictment was obtained charging Lawing with McQueen's murder.

Lawing was taken into custody Wednesday morning in Cornelius, N.C.

He appeared in court Thursday and was ordered held without bond. He was also appointed a public defender.

A follow-up investigation remains underway, and anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP or visit www.raleighcrimestoppers.org for text and email reporting options.

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