A North Carolina stepmother has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2015 disappearance of her 18-year-old stepdaughter, Sara Nicole Graham. Connie Graham was arrested Thursday by the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, which also charged two of her sons, Bobby Matthew McLellan and Luke Locklear, with accessory after the fact, felony conspiracy, and evidence tampering in connection with the case.
Sara Graham vanished on February 4, 2015, after leaving her home for her shift at a Walmart in Pembroke. Her van was found abandoned in a field near Interstate 95 later that day, but Graham herself was never found. The case remained unsolved for over a decade.
Earlier this month, a Robeson County judge legally declared Graham dead after she had been missing for more than seven years, allowing prosecutors to proceed with a homicide investigation. Sheriff Burnis Wilkins stated that the investigation never went cold, emphasizing that the case remained a priority since he took office in 2018.
"While some may have believed this case had gone cold, the reality is a case like this never leaves the minds of the investigators assigned to it," Wilkins said. "When I took office in 2018, one of my first priorities was to get justice for Sara, and that doesn't end with the criminal charges today. We will not stop until we find her."
Connie Graham was denied bond during her first court appearance. McLellan and Locklear are each being held on $1 million secured bonds. Authorities have not disclosed the specific evidence that led to the arrests, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.
Sara Graham's mother, Catherine Armenta, described the past 11 years as "tremendously difficult," adding that her family misses Sara terribly. Armenta confirmed that the decision to have Sara legally declared dead was painful but necessary and thanked law enforcement for their continued pursuit of the case. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the recovery of Sara Graham's body.