The Lantern

16/08/2025

The Cold Case of Cecil Lawrence Chacon Jr

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The Cold Case of Cecil Lawrence Chacon Jr.

Cecil was the industrial education coordinator for the Vance County School District, residing in Henderson, North Carolina. Chacon was divorced at the time, with three children under 16.

On June 6, 1992, Chacon had taken a vacation day to visit nearby Wilmington and stopped by his mother’s house on that Sunday around 9:00 P.M. on his way back in town, June 8. His mother pleaded with Cecil to stay the night, but he preferred to head back home, just a few miles away, to get rest around 10 P.M. He left in his 1976 Buick Skylark from the residence. It is reported that his children, who usually lived with Chacon at the time, were staying at home with his ex-wife while he was on a mini-vacation.

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On June 9, 1992, Cecil failed to report to work or call his mother, which he usually did.

Two deputies went to his residence that evening and noticed an open window on the east side of the house with the spotlight at the rear of the house on. No other lights were on in the home, and the front window’s screen was found on the ground. Law enforcement gained entry into the residence through the basement window and noticed furniture overturned, with dark stains on the carpet.

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But Chacon was nowhere to be found at that time, and it was later discovered that Chacon’s body was buried in the backyard. He had suffered numerous stab wounds and was dragged from the home and buried in a shallow grave.

Chacon was not a small man, measuring 6 feet 4inches tall, and weighing almost 300 pounds.

It is unclear if robbery was the motive, but the criminals in the case attempted to clean up the scene by mopping and vacuuming the carpet.

A witness reported seeing a Chevrolet Blazer-type vehicle parked near his residence around 10:30 p.m., and it may have been red and black with yellow license plates.

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If you have information about this case or any unsolved case in North Carolina, don't hesitate to get in touch with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation at (800) 334-3000.

Cecil Lawrence Chacon, Jr. was just 43 years old when he was murdered.

16/08/2025

Blackbeard’s Ghost Ship of Topsail Island

Topsail Island in North Carolina is now a beautiful, sleepy seaside community, but years ago, the coastline here had a darker past, which included looting and piracy.

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The island’s name has two main origins, but local lore persists in the notion that it is derived from pirates hiding behind the island, with only their topsails visible above the water. Another deviation suggests the name came from local merchants watching out for the topsails of pirate ships that decided to hide there. The more widely accepted origin is from New Topsail Inlet, which was first noted on early navigational charts.

Another legend claims that Blackbeard buried treasure on the island’s southern end in a hole known as the “Gold Hole.”

Some claim that even after Blackbeard’s death, his crew still patrols Rich’s Inlet. The inlet is now shallow, but when pirates roamed the North Carolina coastline in 1718, a broad and deep inlet allowed ships to pass through.

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Local lore suggests that if you’re boating past the inlet, keep a watchful eye on your radar. You may notice a blimp appear that starts near the coast, but when you look back, nothing is there. As you move past the blimp, it moves out of the inlet and begins to follow you. Some believe it’s the ghost of Blackbeard still tracking boats that come into the area.

Written By: John G. Clark Jr

16/08/2025

The 1998 Cold Case of Brittany Lynn Locklear in Hoke County

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The 1998 Cold Case of Brittany Lynn Locklear in Hoke County

On the morning of Wednesday, January 7, 1998, five-year-old Brittany Lynn Locklear was abducted as she waited for the school bus outside her home on Grainey Road in Hoke County, North Carolina.

After an intensive search, Locklear was discovered deceased the following day.. It was approximately three miles from where she disappeared.

According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s website, “Physical evidence from both the abduction site and the body recovery site was sent to the SBI Laboratory for processing. One focus of the investigation was the description of the vehicle driven by the suspect. After reviewing the information received and re-interviewing witnesses, investigators believe the offender was driving a full-size pick-up truck of unknown color. Hundreds of leads provided by the public have been investigated. Police continue to seek the public's help for any information, however seemingly unimportant or already reported, which may identify the person(s) responsible for the abduction and murder of Brittany Lynn Locklear.”

Someone knows what happened to Brittany Lynn Locklear on that morning as she waited for the school bus; maybe that person is you.

If you have information about this case or any unsolved case in North Carolina, don't hesitate to get in touch with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation at (800) 334-3000.

$20,000 REWARD for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder of Brittany Lynn Locklear.

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15/08/2025

Mysteries of the Brady C. Jefcoat Museum of Americana

The Brady C. Jefcoat Museum of Americana in Murfreesboro, NC, was originally a school that opened in 1922. In the early 1960s, teacher Marjorie Riddick was known for telling stories that her family's plantation home north of town was haunted. Her 9th-grade class experienced a strange event during class one day. Former Student, Donna Britt Compton said, “… she (Mrs Riddick) thought they (ghosts) followed her to school! The door came open, and she turned towards the door and said, ‘You just turn around and go back home. These students are in class now.' In a minute, the door closed, and she went right back to teaching without missing a beat!”

In the 1990s, the Murfreesboro Historical Association learned that an eccentric older man living in Cary named Brady Jefcoat had amassed an amazing collection of antique music boxes, early phonographs, old washing machines, and other Americana-type collectables. He began collecting after the death of his beloved wife from flea markets, garage sales, and other places, often purchasing broken items and restoring them to like-new condition. The Smithsonian and the NC Museum of History wanted some of the items, but not all. Jefrcoat said, "No". He wanted his collection to be preserved in its entirety. To say he was obsessed with the objects is putting it lightly. He established an endowment for the collection, and MHA purchased and upgraded the old school building to house the collection.

"It made him a stronger man," said Colon Ballance, the museum’s current curator, in a 2009 article in the Raleigh News & Observer. "When he was given some of those first pieces to work on, it took his mind off grieving so much. It gave him a sense of direction."

Strange sounds have been heard in the old school building that cannot be explained. In 2024, the Old Dominion Ghost Hunters conducted a paranormal investigation of the museum. They picked up the name "Wheeler" during a spirit box session, which is a name from Murfreesboro's history. They also detected changes in electromagnetic energy and temperature, which could not be readily explained.

Is Mr. Jefcoat still looking after his collection in death as he obsessed over it in life? Do any of the objects that he collected have any residual paranormal energy associated with them? A photograph was taken showing what looks like a face reflected in a crystal ball. We've tried to explain if it is something that is being reflected in the glass, but we have been unable to replicate the photograph. Visit the museum on weekends to find out!

The Historic Murfreesboro, North Carolina, Ghost Tour is fast approaching and will be held on October 18, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. To hear more stories like this one, please check their link out in the comments below. All proceeds generated go to the Murfreesboro Historical Association. I highly recommend this tour, and it supports a great cause and preserves North Carolina's legends & lore. This article was provided by Al Parker with the Murfreesboro Historical Association.

- Al Parker, Murfreesboro Historical Association

15/08/2025

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15/08/2025

The Legend of the Maco Light

North Carolina is home to many legends and lore, including famous ghost lights like the Brown Mountain Lights, the Thomas Divide Lights, and the Vander Light. One ghost light that seemingly disappeared from paranormal radars over the years is the mystery of the Maco Light and the ghostly tale that led to the phenomenon.

Maco is a crossroads at U.S. Highway 74-76 and N.C. Highway 87 in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near Wilmington.

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The Maco Light is said to be the ghostly lantern of Joe Baldwin, who worked as a brakeman on a train in the 1860s. Baldwin was tragically killed in a violent accident when the cars on his train uncoupled, sending Baldwin down the tracks into another fast-approaching train on the same tracks.

Legend says that Joe Baldwin began anxiously swinging his lantern to alert the engineer of the other train, but it was too late, as the collision decapitated Baldwin.

It is believed that Baldwin haunted the railroad tracks for a hundred years or more, swinging his lantern in the distance, still searching for his severed head in the afterlife, before the tracks were removed years ago.

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While there is no known record for a Joe Baldwin, who was said to have been employed by the railroad company, there is a record of a Charles Baldwin, who died near Maco on January 4, 1856. Charles was not decapitated in the accident, but he did die from traumatic head injuries and was buried at St. James Cemetery in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Written By: John G. Clark Jr.

15/08/2025

The 2006 Disappearance of Brandee Canipe The Beyond. Please follow The Beyond for more cold cases.

The 2006 Disappearance of Brandee Canipe

Brandee Canipe was last known to be alive on May 6, 2006. At the time, it’s believed that Canipe was living in Mocksville, North Carolina, in Davie County. She was just 29 years old when she vanished. Brandee’s younger sister spoke with Dateline and stated, “She was a free spirit,” Leigh said. “It would be sometimes a month or so without contact with her when we were younger.”

According to the same news article by NBC News, “The family knew Brandee would bounce around from place to place and go without communicating sometimes, but when she didn’t show up to a funeral, they believe she would never have missed — they decided they needed to report her missing. That was in April 2010.”

The Davie County Sheriff’s Department determined that the exact date of her disappearance was May 6, 2006. It was also stated in the same article that the family had recently learned that parts of Canipe’s car had been located at the 109 U-Pull It in Winston-Salem.

However, Captain Smith stated, “There wasn’t anything remarkable about the car at all,” Smith said. “So it’s not like we had a car with a crime scene.”

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It is also believed that one of the last places where one of Brandee’s family members last saw her was in the Belews Creek area, near Winston-Salem. They were able to find the residence successfully.

The article later stated, “This was the correct house, but it’s not where she disappeared from,” the captain said. It is just one of the last locations where Leigh saw Brandee. “We’ve been to the house; we found the current owner, the past owner, all of that has been followed up on.”

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It has been 19 years since Brandee Canipe mysteriously disappeared. She is described as having brown eyes and, at the time, had long, light brown hair and a slim build.

Someone knows what happened to Canipe, and maybe that person is you. If you have any information about this case, please call the Davie Sheriff’s Office at 336-751-6238.

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Data collected for this cold case: NBC News article, March 18, 2025.

15/08/2025

Please make sure you follow The Beyond if you like true crime and cold cases. Tomorrow, I will unravel the mysterious disappearance of Brandee Canipe in North Carolina.

15/08/2025

A Headless Blackbeard Haunts Teach’s Hole

Teach’s Hole in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, specifically Ocracoke Island, is the name given to a channel and spot where the infamous pirate Blackbeard is said to have anchored and met his demise in battle.

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1718 wasn’t a great year if you happened to be a pirate in those days. Stede Bonnet and Teach died roughly a month apart.

On November 22, 1718, Blackbeard met his fate at the hands of Lt. Robert Maynard, giving the name Teach’s Hole to the cove where he was alleged to have died.

Legend says that as proof of defeat, Lt. Maynard beheaded the famous pirate and hung his head from the bow of his ship. It is believed his lifeless body was discarded overboard. Blackbeard’s head was allegedly still screaming after his death, and his body swam around the boat.

There have been stories of a headless body swimming in the cove of Teach’s Hole and a headless Blackbeard searching the grounds for his missing head.

Written By: John G. Clark Jr.
Image Credit: Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, August 17, 2011

15/08/2025

The 2000 Disappearance of Asha Degree. Please follow The Beyond for more cold cases, and our website.

The 2000 Disappearance of Asha Degree

Asha Degree was just nine years old in the fourth grade when she disappeared from Shelby, North Carolina. In the early morning hours of Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2000, for reasons unknown, Degree left her home.

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According to the FBI website, “Around 2:30 a.m., Asha Degree’s father checked up on her and her older brother in the room they shared. Both were sound asleep in their beds. Just a few hours later, around 6:30, Asha’s mother came to wake her kids for school. But Asha wasn’t there. "There were no signs of forced entry, no obvious indication of where she’d gone.”

Motorists reported seeing the young girl walking along a state highway around 4:00 A.M that morning.

While some clues have emerged through the years about what could’ve happened to her, we still haven’t found Asha.

Anyone with information about Asha Degree’s disappearance should call the FBI at 704-672-6100 or the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office at 704-484-4822. A $45,000 reward is offered for information.

14/08/2025

The Witch of Nags Head

Peggy Schmidt wrote about The Witch of Nags Head in her book Ghosts of the Outer Banks on pages 19 to 24. The old witch lived in the woods on Nags Head with her husband and young son. One day, her husband disappeared, thanks to the pirates who visited this area. After he disappeared, she befriended the local fishermen, who allowed her son to accompany them, keeping the fish he caught. Often, the fishermen would stop by the old shack to check on her, dropping food off so she and her son would have plenty to eat.

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The old witch thought the world of her son until a band of pirates showed up on her doorstep one day, demanding the young lad. The boy was forced to work on a pirate ship until he lost his life in battle at sea. At least, the band of unsavory characters showed up at her door to announce his death to the old witch and paid her a handsome portion of their b***y for her troubles. She became bitter and heartbroken, cursing the captain, who would never feel the joy of becoming a grandparent and would never have a grandson to carry on his name.

Word traveled to the captain’s wife about the curse, who believed in the hex. She was scared of what might happen, so she packed up and moved back to Charleston, South Carolina, with her daughter.

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Finally, the daughter of the cursed captain grew into a beautiful bride and was to marry on New Year’s Eve. People gathered in the Charleston home, awaiting the bride to make her way down to greet her husband. The music played, but the young woman never appeared. Her mother remembered the promise the old witch had made to her husband. Finally, the young woman replied from the other room, asking her husband to catch her from the stairwell. The mother was relieved to hear her voice, but also agitated that she was acting like an adolescent. They quickly went to the staircase, but the bride was nowhere to be found. A search party quickly assembled to locate the bride. Days and weeks passed, but the woman had vanished into thin air. Her mother moved out of the home, heartbroken that her daughter was gone.

The following year, one year after the wedding was to take place, on New Year’s Eve, a group of children was playing by the home when they noticed a young woman in the window calling to them. She would reappear in the same window every year.

One day, a man decided to spend the night there, hoping to meet the spirit. The man fell asleep around midnight and had a crazy dream that felt real. He dreamed that he watched a wedding from the stairwell of the home. The bride ran down the hallway, calling for her husband, and tripped against a wall. When she did this, she accidentally hit a lever and plunged into a room below the floor, with it shutting behind her, basically burying herself alive.

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The man was jolted awake by this, hearing a cackle that only a witch could make. When he went down the hallway, he found the lever on the wall and found the skeleton remains of the young bride at the bottom of the steps.

She never appeared again in that window.

Other variations to the story exist.

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Written By: John G. Clark Jr.

14/08/2025

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