39-year-old NC cold case murder receives closure Thursday for retired public school teacher

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KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — A 39-year-old cold case in Kinston got its closure Thursday.

The Kinston Police Department had a press conference to share what they found out about the murder of Hokie Shepherd.

Shepherd was found Jan. 8, 1985 and since then, this case has stayed on the minds of not just the detectives, but the community as well.

Kinston Police Department names new suspect in 1985 cold case

Shepherd was 62 years old when she was murdered and was a beloved retired Lenoir County Public Schools teacher of more than 30 years. Last year, Major Brandon Turner of the City of Kinston Police Department, received a call from retired detective Tommy Lewis, requesting that they look into the case again.

From there, the KPD was able to send DNA profiles to a company called Orthram, a private lab used for DNA testing, and that uses genealogy to map out family histories.

“We sent some DNA profiles into Orthram who conducted tests and they were able to match a DNA profile,” Major Turner said. “We’re happy to say that on Sept. 30th, 2024, we met with the DA’s office, presented our evidence, and were able to identify the suspect as Thomas Williams Wade Jr.”

That suspect died in 2007, but the information now gives the family of Hokie Shepherd closure after 39 long years of waiting.

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Lauren Beachy

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