Tyler Gilbert, a 16-year-old African-American male, was tragically found dead on May 18, 2016, in Maple Hill, North Carolina. Tyler, along with his 19-year-old brother Deandre Gilbert, had been reported missing since May 15, 2016. Their bodies were discovered in a rural area of Onslow County, near a dirt road. The Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Tyler died from a gunshot wound to the head. Deandre's autopsy results were pending at the time of the report.
The investigation into the deaths of Tyler and Deandre Gilbert revealed that the brothers were last seen in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Their bodies were found in the woods, and Deandre's 2002 Hyundai was discovered nearby, completely burned. Authorities treated the case as a homicide and identified Steven McCarty, a 23-year-old African-American male from Jacksonville, as a person of interest. McCarty was later arrested for a probation violation but was not initially charged in connection with the deaths.
In 2017, Steven McCarty was charged with the murders of Tyler and Deandre Gilbert. The trial revealed that the deaths were believed to be drug or gang-related. McCarty was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of felonious burning of personal property. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole, along with an additional sentence for burning property. The court proceedings included testimonies about a gun that Deandre had purchased shortly before his death, which was linked to the motive behind the murders.
The Gilbert family's loss deeply affected the community, and the case highlighted the impact of violence and crime in the area. The investigation and subsequent trial brought some closure to the family, but the pain of losing two young lives remained a poignant reminder of the tragedy.
