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Edgecombe County Serial Killer

The Edgecombe County Serial Killer, also known as "The Seven Bridges Killer", is the name given to a suspected serial killer operating in and around Edgecombe County, North Carolina since at least 2005. Investigators suspect the Edgecombe County Serial Killer of involvement in at least nine confirmed deaths and one disappearance in Edgecombe County and neighboring Halifax County, North Carolina. All ten victims were black women with a history of drug use or prostitution. In September 2009, police arrested Antwan Maurice Pittman, a registered sex offender, for the murder of one of the victims, Taraha Nicholson. Authorities are still investigating whether Pittman may be connected to some or all of the other killings.

The known victims comprise: Melody Wiggins, 29, body found in May 2005. Jackie Thorpe, 35, body found in August 2007. Ernestine Battle, 50, body found in March 2008. Elizabeth Jane Smallwood, 33, body found in February 2009. Taraha Shenice Nicholson, 28, body found in March 2009. Jarneice "Sunshine" Hargrove, 31, body found in June 2009. Christine Boone, 43, body found in March 2010. Roberta Williams, 40, body found in March 2010. Yolanda Lancaster, 37, body found in January 2011.

Additionally, the Edgecombe County Serial Killer is suspected in the disappearance of Joyce Durham, 26.

From News-Observer link In addition to Nicholson, the other women whose bodies have been identified are Roberta Williams, 40, found in March 2010; Christine Boone, 43, found in March 2010; Jarneice "Sunshine" Hargrove, 31, found in June 2009; Elizabeth Jane Smallwood, 33, found in February 2009; Ernestine Battle, 50, found in March 2008; Jackie Thorpe, 35, found in August 2007; and Melody Wiggins, 29, found in May 2005.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/01/12/915083/remains-found-where-others-discovered.html#storylink=cpy

are missing, the remains of eight have been found, all of them fitting a similar profile of several women from Rocky Mount whose bodies were discovered within the past years, dating back to 2005. Rocky Mount police Chief John Manley acknowledged to media that authorities are dealing with a serial killer.

One of the victims, Roberta Williams, could be traced back to the year 2008, as it has been the last time Williams was seen alive. Her remains were discovered in 2010, off Seven Bridges Road, between Battleboro and Whitakers.

In June 2008, the sheriff's office requested assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and formed a task force of local, state and federal officials to try to find out if the killings are connected.

In January 2011, more human remains were found by a hunter in Edgecombe County, whereby this victim could be number nine. The remains have been positively identified in January as 37-year-old Yolanda Lancaster, who was listed as missing.

The first victim found was Melody Wiggins, 29, back in 2005. In 2007, Jackie Thorpe, 35, was found nude in a pile of trash. 2008, the body of Ernestine Battle, 50, was found in a wooded area. A farmer found in June 2009 the skeleton of Jarniece Latonya Hargrove, 31, also in a wooded spot.