The Latest:
Rowan County deputies say a second suspect has been charged with the murder and attempted robbery of Lakyn Bailey.
36-year-old James Rife, of Cleveland, NC, was already in jail on unrelated charges when he was identified as a person of interest, officials say. He is now charged with Murder and Attempted Robbery.
Rife and Kennedy are currently being held under no bond.
Update (Jan. 30, 2019):
Rowan County deputies have charged 35-year-old Joshua Kennedy with the murder and attempted robbery of 26-year-old Lakyn Bailey on January 27th.
Joshua Wade Kennedy
Officials say Kennedy is a registered sex offender in West Virginia, and has been living in Iredell and Rowan Counties. He was arrested Wednesday afternoon.
Detectives have reportedly reached out to West Virginia authorities to verify Kennedy’s residence status.
This case is still under investigation, and officials say more arrests are possible.
Update (Jan. 29, 2019):
Deputies now believe the murder of 26-year-old Lakyn Bailey who was found dead inside a car at the Country Cupboard BP in Salisbury over the weekend, appears to be the result of a methamphetamine drug deal that turned violent.
The exchange resulted in Bailey’s shooting death, officials say.
After thorough investigation, deputies located 41-year-old Jason Donald Cranfill who authorities say drove Bailey to the store after the drug deal.
Cranfill has been charged with felony possession of schedule II controlled substance methamphetamine. He has been place in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $5,000 secured bond.
Jason Donald Cranfill
ORIGINAL STORY:
SALISBURY, N.C. — A 26-year-old woman was found dead inside a car at a store in Salisbury on Sunday morning, police say.
Salisbury City Police were called around 1:30 a.m. to the Country Cupboard BP, 2010 Statesville Boulevard, where they located Lakyn Jade Bailey of Davidson dead in a car that was driven by her friend.
Bailey’s family has been notified of her death.
During the initial investigation, police determined the incident most likely occurred outside the Salisbury city limits.
Officials say Bailey appeared to have been shot in the Woodleaf Road area before being driven to the Country Cupboard store.
Investigators believe that on the morning of the incident, Bailey traveled from Statesville to Rowan County where she was killed.
Law enforcement is investigating this case as a murder.
Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to contact Lt. Chad. Moose at 704-216-8687 or SSG Rodney Mahaley at 704-216-8711.
