Fayetteville teen Laniyah Whitted identified; suspect Kabron Thaggard arrested

Human remains recovered on July 30 in a wooded area near Deep Creek Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina, were confirmed by the state medical examiner as those of 17‑year‑old Laniyah Whitted, who had been reported missing in November 2021. The identification ended a five‑year search by her family and local volunteers.

Cumberland County authorities arrested 22‑year‑old Kabron Thaggard, already in custody on separate armed‑robbery charges, and charged him with first‑degree murder and concealment of a body. District Attorney Billy West said Whitted was shot in the head during a domestic dispute with Thaggard. The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare for trial.