Raleigh police officers were called to the 200 block of Whistling Straits Way shortly after 12:15 p.m. Thursday to check on Sheremy Gwenette Dillard after family members reported they had not heard from her. Police were told she lived at the home with her boyfriend, Rickey Harper.
Dillard was the head coach for girls basketball and a recovery teacher at Felton Grove High School in Apex.
When officers arrived, they found her dead inside the home. Police said her injuries appeared consistent with a stabbing.
Harper was not there when officers began their investigation. Detectives collected evidence and used Flock cameras to develop leads that helped identify him as the suspect, according to police.
Harper was charged with first-degree murder but 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.
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 that 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 continued.
Dillard previously was the longtime women's basketball coach and a 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 staffers who return on Monday, as well as students before and after they return on Aug. 24.
The investigation remains ongoing, RPD said.
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