NJ double murder suspect caught in Whiteville

US Marshals have arrested an accused murderer in Columbus County. Lance Fulton was on the run from New Jersey and was staying with relatives at a Whiteville apartment complex.

Fulton fled to North Carolina after allegedly helping kill and bury the bodies of a New Jersey couple nearly two weeks ago. Officers arrested the 19-year-old from Camden, NJ, Saturday night. According to the Columbus County Sheriff’s office, Fulton was arrested on a fugitive warrant for two counts of murder.

Investigators in Camden say two weeks ago, Fulton was part of a group of teens who beat and killed 18-year-old Muriah Ashley Huff. Her 23-year-old boyfriend Michael Hawkins was beaten, shot and stabbed. The couple was found buried in a backyard. Days later Fulton was seen hanging around this complex in Columbus County.
“He was strange to the neighborhood,” Candi Caraballo, who lives in Sawmill Apartments, said. “I didn’t know who he was or where he was from or what not, and nobody asked him any questions and he didn’t ask any questions. It was like kinda weird but whatever we have weird people walk through all the time.”

According to neighbors Fulton’s uncle, aunt and cousins live in Sawmill. Many said Saturday night was chaotic, but things have since calmed down since the arrest, and they do not feel their safety is in jeopardy.

Police have arrested other suspects in the crimes, including a 14-year-old girl in New Jersey. Fulton was in Columbus County Court yesterday, where he agreed to be extradited to New Jersey. No word yet on when that will happen.