By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-13 13:19:38 | Updated at 2026-06-19 14:36:34
6 days ago
A North Carolina family of a 13-year-old girl, who was murdered more than three decades ago, has been left devastated as they claim the investigation was 'obstructed' by 'wrongfully charging' the local police chief for tampering with evidence.
Isis Denise 'Dee Dee' Dawkins vanished from her Hickory home in the summer of 1992, only for her body to be found 25 days later in the Henry Fork River.
For the last 34 years, her family has been searching for answers as to who raped and murdered their teenage daughter.
Her case went cold for decades, until Brookford Police Chief, Will Armstrong, then 24, took the lead role at the department and reopened it in 2023, driven by an empathetic need to solve the local case.
'I opened the case because it really touched my heart to think a 13-year-old child was killed in my community,' he told WCNC in 2023.
It gave the family hope again that they might one day see justice, but they have faced more delays to finding the killer after Armstrong was slapped with charges after being accused of secretly recording a suspect and editing the footage, stalling the investigation once more.
Armstrong left his phone inside local man William Crooks' home after he interviewed him about Dawkins' rape and murder in October 2023. Crooks has never faced any charges relating to Dawkins' death and has repeatedly denied any involvement.
Armstrong and another officer had met with Crooks in his home then the police chief left his cellphone behind with the recording function still active, court documents said.
Investigators allege Armstrong later admitted he deliberately left the phone behind in hopes of capturing statements about the investigation after he departed. It was alleged he then later deleted or altered portions of the recording.
Isis Denise 'Dee Dee' Dawkins vanished from her Hickory home in the summer of 1992, only for her body to be found 25 days later in the Henry Fork River
Brookford Police Chief Will Armstrong reopened the case after getting the top position at the department in 2023. He later was charged after he was accused of leaving his phone recording at potential suspect's house
Armstrong went on trial this week accused of illegally recording a person of interest and destroying evidence in the case.
But on Thursday, a judge dismissed all charges against him, stating there was not enough evidence to proceed after two days of testimony.
'Our family is relieved,' Kessiah Lockhart Young, the late girl's cousin, told the Daily Mail. 'The impact of the chief's case on Dee Dee's case is parallel.'
The family has supported Armstrong and claimed Catawba County Sheriff's Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, and the FBI 'impeded and obstructed' the case by 'maliciously prosecuting the chief.'
'The SBI agent named the prime suspect and damaged Dee Dee's case,' Lockhart Young told the Daily Mail.
Armstrong's lawyer, James E Hairston Jr told the Daily Mail: 'Chief Armstrong did not violate any laws and was only trying to solve the 30-plus-year-old rape and murder of then-13-year-old.
'He looks forward to continuing his career in law enforcement and still remains the chief of police of the Town of Brookford. The town stood by him throughout his fight for justice.'
Armstrong had pleaded not guilty and insisted the case against him was politically motivated retaliation for reopening the decades-old cold case and later announcing a run for sheriff.
Prosecutors allege Armstrong intentionally left his cellphone behind during a 2023 interview with a man questioned in the cold case, then later deleted or altered portions of the recording
Kessiah Lockhart Young (right), Dee Dee's cousin, praised the judge who dropped Armstrong's charges on Thursday, as he is helping the late girl's case
Prosecutors, however, argued that while North Carolina generally permits one-party consent recordings, Armstrong left the device behind after exiting the residence, meaning he was no longer a participant in any conversations that may have been captured.
Prosecutors said that distinction was significant to the case.
Crooks told WSOC-TV he was stunned when he learned what prosecutors claim happened.
'That ain't right,' Crooks said. 'Trying to get me to say something I'm not supposed to say. Trying to get me to say something I'm not guilty of.'
Armstrong previously acknowledged he had left the phone behind, but disputed prosecutors' characterization of his actions.
He previously told local media that the device only recorded approximately 10 minutes of the television show, Gunsmoke, and captured no relevant information about the homicide investigation.
'I am the guy who made a mistake,' Armstrong said at the time.
His attorney argued that Armstrong never altered, destroyed or stole evidence, and has described the prosecution as unsupported by credible facts.
For years, Armstrong was praised by some residents and members of Dawkins' family for aggressively pursuing answers in the decades-old unsolved murder case
On the second day of testimony on Wednesday, jurors heard a recording of an interview between Armstrong and federal investigators in which the chief discussed leaving his cellphone behind.
WCNC reported that jurors also heard testimony from Special Agent Crawley, one of the lead investigators in the case.
The station reported that defense attorneys challenged the state's investigation during cross-examination and argued the Dawkins homicide investigation could not be separated from the charges Armstrong faced.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, argued the case before jurors concerned Armstrong's conduct rather than the unsolved murder itself.
The medical examiner ruled Dawkins' death a homicide, but because of the condition of her body, investigators were unable to determine a definitive cause.
The case remained untouched for decades before Armstrong reopened it after becoming Brookford's police chief.
'I don't feel this family was done justice when they opened the case. I don't think they are getting done proper justice now,' Armstrong said in 2023.
He publicly criticized what he described as investigative failures, missing evidence, and a lack of follow-up by authorities.
Armstrong has pleaded not guilty and insists the charges are politically motivated retaliation for reopening the Dawkins investigation and later announcing a run for sheriff
Among the issues, Armstrong highlighted the disappearance of a shoe recovered with Dawkins' body, and what he claimed was resistance from other agencies when he sought access to case files.
His efforts earned him praise from members of Dawkins' family, some of whom have attended court proceedings in support of the chief.
Outside court on Tuesday, Armstrong maintained that the prosecution was an attempt to derail his career and his efforts to solve Dawkins' murder.
'Everybody has looked at me as if I'm guilty, and I learned the system treats you guilty until proven innocent, and it's made to be innocent until proven guilty,' he said.
'These people have put so much money and resources into the investigation of me that if they would have put these resources into solving this 13-year-old juvenile's case, we may have, could have solved it by now.'
In a Facebook post published on the 33rd anniversary of Dawkins' death, Armstrong again maintained his innocence and accused local law enforcement of pursuing a politically motivated case against him.
'I did nothing wrong. I committed no crime. There was no illegal activity,' Armstrong wrote, alleging authorities were 'weaponizing the justice system' and attempting to destroy his reputation and career.
Ahead of his trial, Armstrong frequently shared motivational posts on Facebook featuring professional headshots of himself alongside inspirational messages.
In a Facebook post marking the 33rd anniversary of Dawkins' death, Armstrong maintained his innocence and accused authorities of trying to destroy his reputation and career
In one post published on April 7, Armstrong wrote: 'Sometimes people expect you to apologize for being yourself. Don't.'
The same day, he shared another image bearing the message: 'Don't let bad people win twice.'
Weeks later, on April 22, he posted a graphic reading: 'Pressure didn't break you. It lit you.'
Another post published on April 28 stated: 'Anything you lose by being real was fake.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, FBI, and SBI for comment.
