Investigators in Harnett County announced that a body found Thursday belonged to a teen who had been missing since Tuesday.
17-year-old James Devon Snipes was reported missing Tuesday after deputies in Lee County received a call that Snipes was missing and his vehicle had been stolen. He had been last seen at home on Tuesday night.
According to a Facebook post from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies in Lee County and officers with the Sanford Police Department on Wednesday reported finding the vehicle, a 2023 Hyundai Tucson, being driven by someone else. After a chase, the driver of the vehicle and their passengers — none of whose names were released — were all detained. At that time, deputies said Snipes’ whereabouts remained unknown. Investigators did locate firearms inside of the vehicle, one of which was stolen from Harnett County.
Deputies continued the investigation and obtained a lead to search a wooded area off of Buffalo Lakes Road south of Sanford. During the search, deputies discovered a body that was soon identified as Snipes.
No other information was released, other than to say the Lee and Harnett sheriff’s offices are working the case together.
Central Carolina YouthBuild, a GED and adult high school diploma program for young people “who have previously been met with barriers,” posted a tribute to Snipes on Thursday: “We have lost a light that shined so bright he gave the sun a run for its money.” According to the post, Snipes was a YouthBuild graduate who was in the process of enrolling at Central Carolina Community College’s barber program.
It is a sad statement, nobody had anything to say on this news post. People we have lost another young person. Our children are dying. Our posterity is in despair. Parents we need to do better. We need to be involved in what our children are doing, who they are hanging around. Our children are being lost to the evils of the world and we can’t ignore it. If at any time you can’t answer the simple question, “Do you know where your children are?”, you are messing up. How long are we going to let James Snipe and so many others just become another blip in the news cycle? It is easy to become jaded, fight against it. Parents have got to get back to being parents. It all starts with us!!! James you deserved better. May you never be forgotten, and I Pray that maybe your loss will somehow become a rallying cry for us to start protecting our kids from those that are hunting them. Parents you need to put a stop to this madness, you need to be the bad guy, the jerk, the asshole if necessary. Parents learn to say, NO. Pay attention to the signs. This is not James’ parents fault. This is the fault of the predators parents. We don’t need to look to the government to fix this, we need to look to ourselves. We need to not only teach, but show our children right from wrong. Rest well young man. May God’s Grace be on James’ family in this time of heartbreak and sadness.
Imagine a complete lack of empathy, respect and any feeling of responsibility in life. Filled with the behavior that was reflected onto them. They mimic what they’ve been taught. Those weren’t the actions of any self-respecting young men. No, they aren’t familiar with how their behavior affects the lives of others, or themselves. James had goals, accomplishments that would make anyone proud, and he knew love, respect and that our actions have consequences. The thuggish murderers gain street bragging rights with the lives they take, that’s what they accomplished.