Linda Hatcher Taylor, a 71-year-old female from Laurinburg, NC, was found dead on October 29, 2021, in her home on South Pine Street. Taylor, who was of Caucasian ethnicity, had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her daughter, Jennifer Gayle Locklear, a 43-year-old female, was also found dead in the same residence, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
The bodies were discovered by a relative who had come to check on them after not hearing from either woman for some time.
The Laurinburg Police Department, in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, conducted an extensive investigation into the double homicide. After eight months of investigation, a 16-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Linda Hatcher Taylor and Jennifer Gayle Locklear. The juvenile suspect is currently being held in juvenile detention within the NC Department of Juvenile Justice facilities and has been transferred to Superior Adult court pending trial. The case remains within the North Carolina Court System, and further details about the court proceedings or any additional charges have not been released.
The community of Laurinburg has been deeply affected by the tragic deaths of Linda Hatcher Taylor and her daughter. Friends and family of the victims continue to seek justice and closure as they await the trial of the accused. The Laurinburg Police Department has urged anyone with information related to the case to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
