The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office is treating the discovery of a body in a shallow grave as foul play.
On Saturday, the stepfather of Jamaris Pridgen received an anonymous call saying Jamaris was dead and his body was in Sampson County. His stepfather began checking locations and found his stepson’s car on CC Road in the Harrell’s community, at which time he called 911.
Sampson County deputies said there was evidence of foul play discovered in the vehicle, although detectives would not say exactly what led them to that conclusion.
The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and NC SBI assisted the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office with search efforts. Around 9:00pm Saturday a shallow grave was located in a wooded area off Wilber Pridgen Road.
Investigators spend Saturday night and Sunday processing the crime scene and interviewing potential witnesses.
The body was identified as 20 year-old Jamaris Pridgen of Isaiah Murphy Lane, Harrells. The cause of death is pending results of an autopsy.
In a press release on Monday, Sampson County authorities said they have a person of interest in the case.
