One year later: Danielle Locklear's family remembers slain teen
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Just seven months before her own untimely death, Danielle Locklear was making sure her grandfather's grave was decorated.
The 15-year-old smiled into a camera lens placing mementos on the gravesite. It was typical of her to be upbeat, helpful and caring.
Now, Danielle rests next to her grandfather on the plot that was bought with the family believing the elders would precede the young.
"Never thought she'd be here beside him," said her aunt and pastor, Hester Fisher, shaking her head. "You just never know."
Fisher gathered about a dozen family members to lead them in prayer around Locklear's grave, draped with Valentine's Day balloon, teddy bears, a frog, flowers, and a purple wreath and butterfly to designate support for domestic violence.
"God makes no mistakes," declared Chena Simmons, Locklear's aunt. "As hard as that is to say, but it may have taken this beautiful young lady, my niece, to perish in order for us to save thousands. We have to believe that there's a greater good that will come of this."
One Year Later
The breadth of Danielle Locklear's story may be reserved for details that come out in a trial, but there are a few things that are certain.
Locklear, 15, and her then-17-year-old ex-boyfriend, Je'Michael Malloy, were in a relationship that sent up occasional red flags, mainly in Locklear's sad demeanor. It was always chalked up to puppy love problems according to family.
Behavior they witnessed also sent up red flags.
Malloy's outburst at the family church involving a younger member was chalked up to a young man who just needed to cool off, said family members.
"This is not fake. This is real," said Simmons. "Je'Michael got so upset with one of the kids, and we're talking 6 or 7 years old, that he pulled a knife."
Fisher, the church's pastor, described pulling Malloy aside to calm him down.
"We just thought 'upset, teenage boy,' but now it [we know] it was something," she said.
Holding a picture of the couple headed to a winter dance at Locklear's South View High School almost puts the family in a daze.
"Je'Michael and Danielle, looking very sweet, very innocent," said Simmons. "Now looking at that photograph, you never would have though. You never would have thought. So thing are not always what they seem."
In the days leading up to Locklear's murder, her family members said she was noticeably down. Locklear and Malloy, an aspiring Marine, had broken up, but again, on the surface it seemed typical of what teens go through.
"She had a deep sadness about her," said Simmons, with other family members nodding in agreement around Locklear's grave. "When at that time, hindsight would say, we should've taken out the time and stopped and said 'Dannie, what's on your mind? I can see something's not right.'"
Locklear would go missing and be killed on the same day -- March 11, 2014. However, her body was not discovered for another three weeks. Endless days of searching and speculation ended when authorities said Malloy confessed to killing his ex-girlfriend.
"For the very person who she trusted, and felt loved and cared about her, took her life," said Simmons. "That's why it's very important for the young men and women out there who are going through domestic violence [to know] it's not okay."
Locklear's friend and fellow Cape Fear High School classmate Dominic Lock would be charged in connection with helping Malloy discard Locklear's body. The 18-year-old posted a $100,000 bond shortly after he was arrested.
"How he got out and he's walking free, we don't understand that," said Fisher. "A best friend loans you $5. A best friend will help you study for a test. A best friend will not help you move a body."
It could be another year before Malloy and Lock, charged with second degree murder, see their day in court through a trial. Or, there could be a plea deal. The case is still making its way through the court system with a series of pre-trial hearings. Malloy's attorney spoke to ABC 11 about his client in the weeks after the arrests, vowing the story would make better sense to people after details emerge about the young couple in court. (Click here to read more.)
Each time, Malloy and Lock are on the court calendar, Locklear's family shows up to the Cumberland County courthouse. Weeks ago, they spoke to Malloy's father for the first time since the murder. (Click here to read more.)
"Je'Michael was a good fellow, but I don't know what went wrong," said Willie Malloy at the time. "To me I feel like he had somebody influence him in all this."
As Locklear's family prepares to observe the anniversary of her death, they vow that silence is not an option.
"Our word today is don't hide it [domestic problems]," said Simmons. "Tell somebody, because it could save your life."
The Vigil
On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., the bridge over the South River will be flooded with candlelight in remembrance of Locklear.
If mourners can't attend the family asks that they light a candle wherever they are at 7:30 p.m., and post a pic to the "Justice for Danielle Locklear "Dannie" page.
"Yes, it's been a tireless fight, but I said we will remain perpetual with it," said Simmons. "We'll fight until the end -- until justice is done. Not just for the Simmons-Locklear families, but for families across North Carolina and the United States of America. Something else needs to be done."
