FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said deputies are searching for two people in connection with the death of a man who it said was shot and then set on fire.
On Tuesday evening, a couple traveling on Production Drive called 911 to report what they believed to be a brush fire near 904 Tom Starling Road, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday.
When the fire department arrived to the scene, firefighters saw a small fire behind a small building.
After putting out the fire, firefighters saw what appeared to be a human body and called the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies arrived and processed the scene. They were able to identify the victim as 49-year-old William Ted Foster who had been living in the 31000 block of Paddlefish Road in Fayetteville.
Deputies said Foster had been shot.
Neighbors said Foster kept to himself, but did have a man and woman who visited him frequently.
One neighbor also said she doesn’t know much about Foster, but did hear a loud noise Tuesday night.
“Last night you could hear a big bang, and I don’t know exactly what that was but it was pretty loud to be heard from my room over here,” said Aracelys Perez.
The sheriff’s office said it is searching for Justin Quick, 20, of 5415 Gilcrest Sands Dr., Hope Mills, and Misty Dawn Burns, 24, of 551 Braxton Blvd., Fayetteville, in connection with the death of Foster.
Mills and Burns could be traveling in Foster’s 2011 silver Chrysler 300. That vehicle has the license plate CHN-9446. On what appears to be Burns’ Facebook page, she is friends with Foster.
Justin Quick’s father, Roy, said both his son and Burns stayed at his home Tuesday night.
Roy Quick said the couple arrived at his home in a silver Chrysler 300.
“Right now I’m just floored over it, you know. I didn’t think he would ever do anything like this,” said Roy Quick.
Roy Quick went on to say his son andd Burns were headed to Wilmington Wednesday to see Burns’ family.
Roy Quick said he does not keep in constant contact with his son as Justin Quick does not have a permanent residence or steady job.
Foster’s body was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center pending an autopsy.
Anyone with information about the shooting and/or the identity of the individuals involved is asked to call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 323-1500, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at (910) 677-5548 or Fayetteville/ Cumberland Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS or 910-483-8477.