Crime
Body of missing 7-year-old Liam King found in a pond
UPDATE: It is with great sadness that we share the following update.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the body of 7-year-old Liam King was discovered this morning in a pond near the area where he was initally reported missing.
We are absolutely devastated. I wish more than anything that we had a different outcomeโfor Liamโs family, for our community, and for the hundreds of first responders and volunteers who poured their hearts into finding him alive.
Over the past two days, youโve seen an extraordinary effort from all involved in this search. This loss is truly heartbreaking. We ask everyone to please continue to keep Liamโs family in your thoughts and prayers.
Liamโs death remains an active investigation.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
ASHEBORO, N.C. โ A massive search effort is underway in Randolph County for a missing 7-year-old boy, Liam King, who was reported missing late Sunday morning after wandering away from a home on Forest Hills Drive in Asheboro.
According to the Randolph County Sheriffโs Office, deputies received the report of the missing child at approximately 11:00 a.m. Sunday, September 7.
Liam, who has cognitive impairments and is nonverbal, was visiting a relative at the residence when he disappeared.
Sheriff Greg Seabolt confirmed that investigators do not believe Liam was abducted or that foul play is involved, but that he may be lost, disoriented, and at risk.
Hundreds of officers and search crews from the Randolph County Sheriffโs Office, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, multiple search and rescue teams, and federal partners including the FBI have been deployed in the search.
Drones, helicopters, K-9 teams, and ground units have canvassed a 2,500-meter radius around the home where Liam was last seen.
Authorities are focusing particular attention on nearby ponds, streams, and other bodies of water, as Sheriff Seabolt noted Liam is known to be fascinated with water.
Deputies said Liam was last seen wearing a light blue, black, and gray Nike sweatshirt, a gray Nike T-shirt, black sweatpants, blue Sonic-themed socks, and tan sneakers.
He is described as approximately 3 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 55 pounds, with shoulder-length dark hair and brown eyes.
Officials caution that because Liam is nonverbal, he may run if approached by strangers.
The father of missing 7-year-old Liam King has been identified as Jose Luis Reyes, who reportedly shared on Facebook that the family is looking for a pair of pants & sweater as the search continues. Reyes works as a manager at a Mexican restaurant and is originally from Mexico.
Liamโs mother has been identified as Brenda Victoria King, a resident of Asheboro, North Carolina.
Court records indicate that she was convicted of larceny in 2016 and received a suspended prison sentence in that case.
This is Liam King when he was 4 months old with his mother & father. Brenda King & Jose Luis Reyes. It appears Brenda & Jose have been separated for numerous years.
To aid in the search, deputies have been broadcasting music and television shows Liam enjoys in hopes of drawing him out of hiding, but those efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
The Sheriffโs Office released a public statement Monday morning:
*โThe Randolph County Sheriffโs Office is using every resource available to find this little boy. That includes many law enforcement partners, state, local, and federal resources, and other first responders who have been searching on the ground and in the air since we first received the call that he was missing. We will continue to conduct extensive searches and interviews. Therefore, you will continue to notice an enhanced law enforcement presence in the area where he was last seen. Liam is a member of our community, and we will use every means possible to bring him home.
To ensure the integrity of the tracking efforts currently underway, we kindly ask that no one enter the area at this time unless you have been sent out from the command post. Even a well-intentioned movement could compromise valuable tracks. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Every second counts when a child is missing, especially after the chilly night we just had. Our focus is to find Liam as quickly as possible. No piece of information is too small or insignificant.โ*
Authorities have urged anyone who sees Liam, or who may have relevant information, to immediately call 911.
The search remains active and ongoing.
Crime
Greenville County Murder-Suicide: Chloe Jade Brown and Dreak Wright Dead After Elmwood Avenue Shooting
GREENVILLE, South Carolina โ A fatal shooting at a home on Elmwood Avenue in Greenville County claimed the lives of a man and a woman on Tuesday evening, October 13, 2026.
The victims have been identified in information shared with the public as Chloe Jade Brown, a young mother, and Dreak Wright. The incident has been described as a suspected murder-suicide.
The Greenville County Sheriffโs Office said deputies were called to Elmwood Avenue before 9 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting.
Upon arrival, they found a man and a woman who had both sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
According to the supplied account, Wright allegedly shot Brown before taking his own life. The identities and sequence of events should be treated as reported information until confirmed by authorities.
Chloe Jade Brown has been remembered by friends and loved ones as a caring mother and a bright presence in their lives.
Following news of the deadly incident, tributes expressed grief over her death and concern for the children she leaves behind. Those mourning her have offered prayers for her children, family and everyone affected by the tragedy.
The loss of a mother has prompted particular concern for the childrenโs well-being and the emotional support they may need as they cope with their loss.
Some people sharing tributes to Brown alleged that she had experienced domestic violence. However, the information available does not independently confirm those claims or establish whether domestic violence played a role in the shooting.
Authorities have not provided further details in the supplied report about the circumstances leading up to the incident, the relationship between the victims or any previous reports of domestic disputes.
These details should be verified before being presented as established facts.
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriffโs Office responded to the Elmwood Avenue residence before 9 p.m. Tuesday. They found both victims dead from gunshot wounds, according to the agencyโs initial account.
The incident has been described as a murder-suicide in the supplied information, but additional official confirmation is needed regarding the sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The tragedy has left friends and loved ones mourning both individuals, while tributes to Brown have highlighted the impact her death will have on her children.