‘Armed and dangerous’ person of interest being sought in connection to homicide investigation

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a person of interest in connection to a homicide investigation near Murrayville.

This comes after deputies responded to the 5000 block of Bavarian Lane just after 5:00 a.m. Monday to find 36-year-old Cynthia Danielle Allen deceased inside a home.

Darius Williams, 31, is considered armed and dangerous. He has active warrants from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office for felony stalking, breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, and violation of domestic violence protective order. Williams has other warrants from the Wilmington Police Department for violation of domestic violence protective order and crime of domestic violence.

(Photo: New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office)

Neighbor Joseph Lorincz said that while he didn’t know the victim very well, she was a nice neighbor who cared very much about her son.

“And you know, she just seemed like a nice person,” Lorincz said. “And it’s just a shame really because she just seemed to be one of the good people. She was just a hard-working mother who raised her child and probably wanted to just live a happy life.”

Domestic Violence Shelter and Services outreach director Mandy Houvouras said the warrants Williams had show there are different ways for domestic violence to be committed beyond just physically hurting someone.

“We have to realize that those are charges related to an abuser trying to gain power and control over another individual,” Houvouras said. “And sometimes that involves physical violence but many of those charges don’t necessarily involve physical violence. So charges like stalking and larceny and breaking & entering and violation of a protective order can be huge indicators of risk.”

If you have any information regarding Darius Williams or his whereabouts, you are asked to contact the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office at 910-798-4260.