ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina Beat has identified Issiah Ross, a 17-year-old suspect accused in the brutal killings of 14-year-old Lyric Woods and 18-year-old Devin Clark, a double homicide that stunned Orange County and parts of North Carolina.
For weeks, officials remained tight-lipped as the case unfolded behind sealed court records, but The NC Beat confirmed Ross’ identity through court filings after working closely with sources tied to the investigation.
Woods and Clark, who were close friends, were found shot to death in a brush area near Buckhorn Road in western Orange County on Sunday, September 18.
According to documents obtained by The North Carolina Beat, Lyric Woods suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of her neck, while Devin Clark sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including wounds to his head and thigh.
Bodies Found by Men Riding Four-Wheelers
The grim discovery was made by two men riding four-wheelers who were reportedly out placing deer corn when they came across the teens’ bodies. A 911 call, first obtained by The North Carolina Beat, details the moment the men contacted authorities after finding the victims.
For more than two weeks, The North Carolina Beat worked closely with sources familiar with the investigation to identify the suspect. On Monday morning, the suspect’s identity was confirmed through court records, despite officials remaining largely silent.
Case Sealed as Authorities Stay Tight-Lipped
Orange County officials have been extremely tight-lipped about the case.
On September 26, Orange County Interim District Attorney Jeff Nieman filed a protective order sealing the case, effectively blocking the media and public from accessing information.
The North Carolina Beat obtained and reviewed the protective order, which significantly restricted transparency in the investigation.
Arrest Made, Suspect Identified
On October 5, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced that the suspect believed responsible for the killings had been taken into custody.
The North Carolina Beat has identified the suspect as 17-year-old Issiah Ross, originally from Middletown, Delaware.
According to students we spoke with, Ross briefly attended Eastern Alamance High School, the same school as Devin Clark.
Music Raises Eyebrows After Murders
In a disturbing development, sources confirmed that the day after Woods and Clark were found dead, Ross uploaded five songs to his SoundCloud account.
One of the tracks, titled “Glass,” includes lyrics referencing riding around in a Ford with a “new Glock” and aiming for the head.
LISTEN TO THE SONG BELOW:
Another song, uploaded on Monday, September 19, titled “In The Akorn I Trust,” contains lyrics describing so much “red” in his car it looks like blood, references to blood inside his Acura, and allusions to things he can’t talk about.
LISTEN TO THAT SONG BELOW:
Sources tell The North Carolina Beat that Ross had been getting into trouble in Middletown, Delaware, prompting his move to North Carolina with his mother in what was described as an attempt to start over.
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