William Jimmy Graham, a 61-year-old man from Newton Grove, NC, was reported missing by his family on December 15, 2019. His family last saw him on December 12, 2019, at his residence on Goldsboro Highway. Graham's gray 1991 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck was also missing. The family expressed concern for his welfare, prompting an immediate investigation by the Sampson County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation faced challenges as information quickly dissipated, making it difficult for authorities to track Graham's whereabouts. In April 2020, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Graham's disappearance. Authorities suspected foul play early on and continued to follow leads.
In November 2020, human remains were discovered in a wooded area on Corbett Road in Newton Grove. The remains were sent to the State Crime Lab for examination and were confirmed in May 2021 to be those of William Jimmy Graham. This discovery led to the arrest of Anthony Neil Corbett, a 22-year-old man, who was already serving a federal sentence for an unrelated kidnapping case.
Corbett was charged with the murder of William Jimmy Graham and pleaded guilty in Sampson County Superior Court. He was sentenced to a minimum of 23 years and a maximum of 28 years and 8 months in prison for the murder. The sentencing brought some closure to Graham's family, who had been seeking justice for his death.
The investigation into Graham's disappearance and murder involved multiple agencies, including the NC State Bureau of Investigations, NC State Crime Lab, NC State Medical Examiner's Office, and the NC Governor's Office. The collaborative efforts of these agencies were crucial in bringing the case to a resolution and ensuring that justice was served.
