More than four months after two men were found dead at a home in the Jackson Hamlet community, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest in the investigation.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Vincent Earl McCrae, 38, of Aberdeen, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 5, and charged with one count of murder in connection with the death of Jamar Brooks Hailey, 43, of Aberdeen.
The case stems from the March 29 incident at a residence in the 100 block of Gaines Street, where Hailey and Antonio Jamal Brown, 41, of Raeford, were found dead.
While the Sheriff’s Office has described the case as a double homicide investigation, McCrae has only been charged in connection with Hailey’s death. Investigators said they are awaiting additional forensic evidence before making a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding Brown’s death.
With assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the Fayetteville Police Department, McCrae was located in Fayetteville and taken into custody without incident.
At the time of his arrest, McCrae also had multiple outstanding orders for arrest related to preexisting drug charges. The Sheriff’s Office said the orders were issued after McCrae failed to appear in court on charges including felony possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine, trafficking in heroin, possession with intent to sell or deliver oxycodone, possession with intent to sell or deliver hydrocodone, possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Those charges are separate from the March 29 homicide investigation.
Authorities also said McCrae was wanted for violating the terms of his federal supervision and is being held under a federal detainer.
McCrae is scheduled to appear in Moore County District Court on Aug. 12. He received a $600,000 secured bond on the failure to appear matters and is being held without bond on the murder charge.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Moore County Sheriff’s Office at 910-947-2931 or the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 910-947-4444. Tips may be provided anonymously.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
