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No Arrests In Case Of Missing Virginia Teen Found Dismembered In Shallow Grave
The family of 17-year-old Cion Carroll says his cell phone last pinged at the home of a local sex offender shortly after his Nov. 2 disappearance. So far, no suspects have been publicly identified.
The loved ones of a missing Virginia teen whose dismembered body was found in a shallow grave more than six weeks ago are demanding answers.
Cion Jere Carroll, 17, was reported missing on Nov. 2 after leaving his grandmother’s home in Kenbridge, Virginia — about 70 miles southwest of Richmond, according to CBS Richmond affiliate WTVR-TV.
Cion’s mother, Tiffany Baker, claimed she suspected something was amiss when her son left his grandmother’s without his earphones, according ABC Richmond affiliate WRIC-TV — something he never did.
“Being in his life, I knew my son was in danger,” the mother stated.
“I notified [the Kenbridge Police Department] on the second day,” Baker told NBC Richmond affiliate WWBT. “They gave me different scenarios on what probably happened, but me — as his mother — I knew that those scenarios weren’t true.”
Baker claimed one of her son’s two cell phones had last pinged at the home of a known sex offender who lived not far from Cion's grandmother. It was Cion’s last-known activity; both phones have been turned off ever since.
Cion’s family members accuse police of being “dismissive” of Cion’s disappearance and say that police allegedly cited a “lack of evidence” for why they declined to search the offender’s home, according to the ABC affiliate.
“Nothing was done about that,” Baker told WWBT. “No search warrant, no anything."
Baker said that, when they reported the unnamed offender’s residence to local authorities, relatives were asked to leave the person's property.
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On the evening of Nov. 11, Carroll’s remains were found in a shallow grave in a remote area of Lunenburg County, about four miles from where the teen was last seen.
Baker says state officials told them that Cion’s death was a homicide, according to WRIC-TV.
“His cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and spine,” Baker told reporters. “He was dismembered. Then lye was poured on him and cement. And he was buried in a shallow grave.”
So far, no suspects have been publicly identified.
The property where Cion’s remains were discovered is allegedly not far from the alleged sex offender’s home, according to WWBT.
Kenbridge Chief of Police Ben Barnes briefly spoke with Oxygen.com, referring all inquiries to Virginia State Police, who did not immediately respond to requests.
"The investigation remains ongoing,” a state police spokesperson said in an email to WRIC-TV. “Nothing new to release at this time.”
The Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office also could not be reached for comment.
“My soul is just gone,” Baker told WWBT. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I just lay there and think of my son.”
Cion had just been moved to Kenbridge — a small town in Central Virginia surrounded by tobacco farms with about a population of about 1,200 people — to escape violence in Richmond, his mother told WWBT.
“I just wanted something different for him,” Baker stated. “I just wanted him to have a better life to pursue his dreams.”
Cion’s grandfather, Junius Carter, said the family is desperate to learn what happened to Cion.
“I just can’t figure out why they’ve had no suspects, and they haven’t reached out to give us an update,” Carter stated. “We need some answers.”
“It’s been too long with no answers, not even a suspect, nothing,” Baker told WWBT. “It’s going to happen to some other kid because they think they can get away with it. But I’m going to say this. We ain’t going to give up, you ain’t going to sweep this under the rug. So if you know something, say something. Please.”
She also told WRIC-TV, “I will get justice for my son.”
On Nov. 22, loved ones created a GoFundMe page for financial support on behalf of the victim’s mother.
“Each day that passed was another day Cion was in danger, and the family’s hearts cried louder,” the fundraiser stated.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Virginia State Police at 1-434-352-7128 or email them at questions@vsp.virginia.gov. Individuals can also reach out to the Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
