On August 14, 2023, 41-year-old Delila Nicole Westmoreland was found deceased in her residence at the Bellevue Mill apartment complex in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Responding to a welfare check around 7:45 p.m., police discovered her body with multiple gunshot wounds. An autopsy later revealed she had been shot 12 times.
During the investigation, authorities noted that bullets had penetrated a neighboring apartment, though it was unoccupied at the time, preventing further injuries.
Additionally, it was reported that Delila's 2-year-old child was missing from the scene. The child was later found unharmed and placed in the care of family members.
The primary suspect in this case is Delila's 19-year-old daughter, Jaydah Westmoreland. Investigators learned that Jaydah had recently purchased a .22 caliber rifle and had previously made verbal threats against her mother. She was located at a residence in Durham, North Carolina, along with her 2-year-old sibling. Jaydah was arrested without incident and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. She is currently being held without bond at the Orange County Jail.
In the aftermath of Delila's tragic death, a GoFundMe campaign was established to support her surviving family members, including her husband and three young sons. Delila was remembered as a dedicated nurse at the Durham VA Medical Center, as well as a mother, wife, friend, and union leader.
As of now, the investigation continues, and no further details have been released regarding the motive behind the shooting or any additional suspects. Jaydah's next court appearance is scheduled for August 28, 2023, where she could face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted of the charges against her.
