ONE YEAR AGO: Paitin Fields, 5, rushed to Pender County hospital

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — One year ago today, a crime shocked a Pender County community and it still remains unsolved.

On November 13, 2017, 5-year-old Paitin Fields was found unresponsive in her home. She died two days later.

An autopsy revealed the child had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

Paitin lived with her grandmother in the Willard community at the time. Since her murder, there have been little answers.

In June, the Pender County Sheriff’s Office announced they had a suspect in the case. Paitin’s 19-year-old uncle David Wesley Prevatte.

Prevatte was charged with intimidating a witness and communicating threats after allegedly threatening the life of the lead investigator in Paitin’s case.

WWAY reached out to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office for an update on the case.

Captain James Rowell with the sheriff’s office said it is still a very active and on-going investigation.