Murder trial begins for man accused of killing 2 Orange County teens

High-Profile Court Case Begins in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) — A significant court case starts Monday in Orange County.

Issiah Ross is accused of killing two teens, Lyric Woods and Devin Clark, in 2022.

Ross was 17 years old at the time of the incident.

He has been in custody since then and is being tried as an adult.

Details of the Case

Woods, a 14-year-old from Orange County, and 18-year-old Clark from Mebane went missing in September 2022.

Both families reported them missing.

Law enforcement did not know the two cases were connected until two men riding four-wheelers found their bodies with multiple gunshot wounds.

This discovery shocked family, friends, and the community.

Community Reaction

Eyewitness News spoke with Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood, who remembers Woods as a teen whose life ended too soon.

“It’s very, very difficult not to let your personal feelings wander into these types of instances, especially if you’re a parent, whether you’re a seasoned investigator or brand new on the job. It hits you and you realize the frailty of life,” said Sheriff Blackwood.

Investigation Progress

Evidence led law enforcement to Issiah Ross two weeks later, as he had made his way to Delaware.

The public learned that Ross and Clark attended the same high school, but details about a possible motive are sealed.

Prosecutors say evidence from a witness describes Ross confessing to killing and dumping Woods and Clark’s bodies.

Prosecutors also claim Ross shot Woods and Clark as they tried to run away.

Weapon Details

Both attorneys stated that the gun used to kill the teenagers was a 9-millimeter owned by Clark’s father.

“Their memory will sustain. And I feel it’s important for us to keep their memory alive. And it’s important that their departure from our lives doesn’t define who they were. And again, serves as a reminder of just how precious life is,” said Sheriff Blackwood.