Raleigh police officers were called to the 200 block of Whistling Straits Way shortly after 12:15 p.m. Thursday for a welfare check on Sheremy Gwenette Dillard after family members reported they had not heard from her. Police said Dillard lived at the home with her boyfriend, Rickey Harper.
Dillard was found dead inside the home, and investigators said her injuries appeared consistent with a stabbing.
Dillard was the head coach of the girls basketball team and a recovery teacher at Felton Grove High School in Apex.
Harper was not at the home when officers began their investigation. Detectives collected evidence and used Flock camera technology to develop leads that helped identify him as a suspect, according to police.
Harper was charged with first-degree murder but initially remained at large.
Around 2:45 p.m. Friday, Harper was found in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and taken into custody by the Plymouth Township Police Department.
The investigation remains ongoing, Raleigh police said.
Man charged with murder after WCPSS coach found dead in Raleigh home
Community reacts to death of beloved coach
As the community mourns the loss of Dillard, former students, colleagues and community members are sharing memories of the impact she made throughout the Triangle.
Felton Grove Principal Robert Morrison sent a statement to parents and students saying, "It is with great sadness that I write this message to let you know that our recovery teacher and girls basketball coach, Sheremy Dillard, has passed away. Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Please keep them and all of those who have been impacted by this loss in your hearts."
"We will work together as a unified school community, and we will support one another as we process this loss and navigate this challenging time together," Morrison said.
Messages have poured in on social media from former students and athletes who said Dillard played an important role in their lives both on and off the court.
One of Dillard's longtime friends and line sisters described her as a mentor who was deeply committed to the people she served. She said Dillard graduated from North Carolina Central University and dedicated herself to coaching and mentoring young people throughout her career.
Dillard previously was a longtime women's basketball coach and teacher at Carrboro High School.
"Coach Dillard left Carrboro with a profound legacy of class, grace, wisdom and dedicated service," a Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools spokesperson told ABC11. "She treated Jaguar players, coaches and colleagues like family, while never hesitating to engage in the hard conversations needed to advocate for equity and do what was best for our students and community. Many of our current Jaguar staff and students had strong relationships with Coach Dillard, and as our community begins to process this loss, we will rely on each other for the needed support at this sad time."
The spokesperson said CHCCS will provide support and resources for staff members returning Monday, as well as for students before and after they return on Aug. 24.
That influence extended to students and athletes at both Carrboro High School and Felton Grove High School, where friends say she poured her heart into helping others succeed.
As the community processes the tragedy, domestic violence advocates say it serves as a reminder that domestic violence can affect people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
"We have to be their voice. We have to say, 'Hey, if you see something, you say something. You recognize the signs and the symptoms, you recognize the red flags, you spread the word, you speak out,'" said Kimberly Carver, founder and CEO of The Purple Trail Foundation.
Anyone experiencing domestic violence or concerned about someone who may be in an unsafe situation can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233).
ABC11's Jon Dowding contributed to this report.
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