Murder Suspect Hunt Sparks Tension at North Carolina Funeral After Mistaken Arrest

LEE COUNTY, N.C. — A somber funeral turned into a scene of confusion and tension last week after law enforcement officers searching for a decades-old murder suspect mistakenly detained the wrong man, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrived at the funeral after receiving credible tips that Willard Smith—a suspect in a 1995 murder case—would be attending the service. Authorities hoped to finally make an arrest in the nearly 30-year-old investigation.

However, deputies instead detained Smith’s brother, who closely resembled the fugitive. The mistaken identity quickly escalated tensions as mourners attempted to intervene, questioning the deputies' actions and the disruption during a private moment of grief.

“We never want to upset a family or do anything to disrespect anyone, but we had to go check that out to see if we could locate him,” said Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes. “I kind of feel like it was our only opportunity.”

The detained man was reportedly held at the sheriff’s office for approximately eight hours before being released once his identity was confirmed.

Despite the mix-up, Sheriff Estes defended his department’s actions.

“I feel like they did what they could do to stay safe and to keep everyone there from getting harmed,” he said, adding that the funeral was seen as a rare chance to make progress on a cold case that has remained unresolved for nearly three decades.

Authorities are continuing the search for Willard Smith and have announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.