In January 2018, the family of 29-year-old Carlton Lamaar Edmondson received a distressing phone call that plunged them into a nightmare. Edmondson, a male from Morganton, North Carolina, was the subject of a ransom demand, initiating a harrowing investigation that would cross state lines. His family was contacted by an unknown individual demanding $700 for his safe return.
This call prompted the Valdese Police Department and the Burke County Sheriff's Office to launch a joint investigation into what was being treated as a kidnapping. The initial stages of the investigation led authorities from Boone, North Carolina, into Johnson County, Tennessee, as they followed leads in a desperate search for answers.
The investigation quickly identified Robert Leroy Littleton, III as a primary suspect. He allegedly informed investigators that Edmondson had been taken to a remote area in Tennessee, where he was assaulted and abandoned. This revelation shifted the focus of the case, and Edmondson was officially classified as a missing person. Authorities uncovered cellphone video evidence of the assault, adding a disturbing layer to the case. As the investigation deepened, several other individuals were implicated in the crime. Ultimately, six people were charged in connection with Edmondson's disappearance and murder. These individuals included Littleton's wife, Leigh Katherine Littleton, Valerie Ann Dollar, Michael Stacey-James May, and two others. The motive behind this tragic series of events appears to be a drug deal that had gone awry over a sum of $700.
Despite extensive searches by law enforcement, which included the use of K9 units and drones over hundreds of acres in Johnson County, Carlton Edmondson's body has never been found. The individuals involved have faced legal consequences for their actions. Robert Leroy Littleton, III and Valerie Ann Dollar were both convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping, receiving lengthy prison sentences. Leigh Katherine Littleton was also found guilty on multiple charges, including first-degree felony murder and especially aggravated kidnapping, resulting in a life sentence. The case is a heartbreaking example of a dispute escalating to a senseless act of violence. While the criminal aspect of the case has seen resolution through the convictions of those responsible, the fact that Edmondson's remains have not been located continues to leave his family without full closure. The investigation, which began with a frantic ransom call, unraveled a dark story of kidnapping and murder, leaving a family to grapple with the permanent absence of their loved one.Last Seen: Jan 18, 2018
