LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating a possible homicide after the body of a 16-year-old boy was discovered on Sunday night, officials said.
Edwin Morales was found on Saturday along Whitehouse Drive near U.S. Highway 321 north of Lincolnton.
Whitehouse Drive is less than a mile from his family’s home, his mother, Yuridia Morales, said.
Yuridia said it’s hard to believe her son was likely killed.
“This isn’t true,” she said.
She reported her son missing about two hours before his body was found.
At about 5:15 p.m., her son went to the back porch of their home on Highway 321.
She heard a car speed off and her son was gone so she filed a missing persons’ report.
“I don’t know who would do that to a child, basically,” she said.
Investigators didn’t tell her how he died, but she knows those closest to him weren’t with him.
There is a memorial for him in her living room.
“So we can pray for his soul,” she said.
Yuridia wants someone to come forward with answers.
“Please speak up, please,” she said.
The mother has a message to those who may be responsible for his death.
“You took somebody’s son away,” she said.
Investigators are following up on some leads but said the road was built for a factory.
There are no homes there, which means there are no cameras to capture any clues.
No additional details have been made available.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
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