Robeson County man charged in woman’s 1996 death dies in jail, sheriff’s office says

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WMBF) - Authorities in North Carolina said a man charged with a woman’s death nearly 30 years ago died behind bars early Friday.

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office said 55-year-old Kenneth Locklear died while being held at the Robeson County Detention Center..

The department said detention center staff responded to Locklear having a medical emergency and began life-saving efforts. EMS was also called to the scene and assisted, but Locklear was ultimately pronounced dead.

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office said it has requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to conduct an independent investigation.

An autopsy has also been scheduled.

LOCKLEAR’S ARREST, CHARGES

Locklear was arrested in February and charged with the death of Margaret Bell, who authorities said was stabbed multiple times in her home in December 1996.

Investigators with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and special agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation initially worked the case. The sheriff’s office previously said leads slowed down over the years, turning the case cold.

The family said they felt Locklear, a then son-in-law to Bell, was involved in her murder.

The sheriff’s office said Bell’s case is one of the first selected for review by its cold case investigation division after it was established in 2018.

In April 2021, authorities obtained DNA from Locklear through a search warrant. Previously submitted evidence was also resubmitted to the SBI lab along with Locklear’s.

In February 2025, the SBI lab asked for the resubmission of a particular piece of evidence, which led to Locklear’s arrest.

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