The discovery of Annie Lock’s remains in a pond near Red Springs, North Carolina, brought a tragic end to a months-long search for the 27-year-old pregnant woman, leaving her family and community in profound grief. Lock, a mother to a one-year-old daughter, was five weeks pregnant when she vanished in October 2024 from the Cliffdale Ridge apartments in Fayetteville, where she lived with her boyfriend, Tyrique Zavier Leroy Williams. Her disappearance went unreported by Williams, despite desperate pleas from her family, who sensed something was terribly wrong. The pain of her loss was compounded by the revelation that Williams, a 26-year-old U.S. Army soldier, married another woman just two months after Lock went missing, a move that deepened the suspicions of her loved ones. Now, Williams faces charges of first-degree murder and concealment of death, arrested at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he was undergoing Basic Combat Training.
The heartbreaking saga began when Lock’s family noticed her absence and reached out to Williams, urging him to file a missing person’s report. Tanya Whitehead, Lock’s mother, recalled the anguish of learning her daughter was gone on her own birthday, a moment that shattered her world. The family’s fears grew as neighbors at the Cliffdale Ridge apartments shared accounts of frequent disputes between Lock and Williams, describing physical altercations that spilled into public view. Despite these warning signs, no formal report was made until the family’s persistence prompted action. In April 2025, a joint investigation by the Fayetteville Police Department and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office led to the grim discovery of Lock’s remains in a body of water off N.C. Highway 72 West. The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed her identity, noting the advanced decomposition of her body, which left investigators unable to pinpoint how long she had been there or the precise cause of death.
Williams, who joined the Army and began training with the 35th Engineer Battalion in March 2025, was apprehended by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Leonard Wood. His swift marriage to another woman shortly after Lock’s disappearance raised alarm bells for her family, who felt betrayed by his silence and apparent indifference. The Fayetteville Police Department continues to probe the circumstances of Lock’s death, working closely with Robeson County authorities to piece together the events leading to her murder. Detectives have urged anyone with information to contact Detective Bergamine or the local Crimestoppers program, emphasizing the need for community assistance to achieve justice.
Lock’s family, devastated by her loss, has rallied to honor her memory. Her sister, Tanya Lock, described Annie as a beloved figure whose absence leaves an unfillable void. To cover funeral expenses, the family launched an online fundraiser, a testament to their determination to give Lock a dignified farewell. The tragedy has also sparked broader conversations about domestic violence, with neighbors’ accounts of the couple’s volatile relationship underscoring the need for greater awareness and intervention. For now, the focus remains on securing justice for Annie Lock and her unborn child, whose lives were cut short in an act of unthinkable violence. As the investigation unfolds, her family holds onto memories of her love and the hope that her story will not be forgotten.