In the late summer of 2023, concern began to mount for 27-year-old Shelton Richard Lamar Bennett in Laurel Hill, North Carolina. A son and devoted father, Shelton was last seen on the morning of August 24, 2023. The following day, his family's worries escalated when they learned his vehicle, a blue Dodge Challenger, had been discovered abandoned on Butler Road, not far from his home in Scotland County. The circumstances surrounding the discovery of his car immediately raised alarms.
His mother, who arrived at the scene, reported seeing what appeared to be bloody handprints on the passenger door, and a gun was also found nearby. This troubling evidence prompted an immediate investigation by the Scotland County Sheriff's Office into what was clearly more than a simple missing person case.
The investigation into Shelton's disappearance stretched on for nearly two years. As time passed with no sign of Shelton, his family tirelessly worked to keep his story alive, seeking answers and justice. The case drew widespread attention from the community and multiple law enforcement agencies. In August 2024, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation joined the case, providing additional resources and manpower. Investigators pursued all available leads, conducting extensive interviews and collecting evidence in their search for the young father. The family expressed concerns that potential evidence may have been lost in the initial days following his disappearance, but law enforcement continued their efforts, leaning on the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough.
A tragic discovery in the summer of 2025 brought the search for Shelton Bennett to a heartbreaking end. On August 1, 2025, human skeletal remains were found on a vacant farm near the border of Marlboro County, South Carolina, and Scotland County. Nearly a week later, on August 7, the remains were positively identified as Shelton's. This devastating confirmation also marked a significant turning point in the investigation. On the same day the identification was made, authorities arrested 33-year-old Frederick Dashawn Moore of Laurinburg and charged him with first-degree murder in connection with Shelton's death. The arrest was the culmination of a nearly two-year joint investigation that involved countless hours of work by the Scotland County Sheriff's Office and the NCSBI. While an arrest has been made, investigators have indicated that the case remains open, as they work to ensure everyone involved in Shelton Bennett's tragic death is brought to justice.Last Seen: Aug 23, 2023
