LUMBERTON — Authorities have identified the body found in a burned house in Maxton this past Thursday as that of a missing Maxton man.
Dental and medical records from the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health/Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh confirmed the body is 30-year-old Justin Cody Hunt, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said Tuesday. Hunt was reported missing April 22 by family members.
Deputies responded about 7:03 p.m. Thursday to the call of a body found in a residence at 187 Ardell Road, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The residence had been burned.
Police arrested 19-year-old Austin Ransom, also of Maxton, on Friday in relation to Hunt’s death.
He is charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, first-degree arson and second-degree burglary, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Ransom was placed in the Robeson County Detention Center with no bond for the murder charge, and under a $2,000,000 secured bond for the remaining charges.
Hunt was last seen by family members about 5 p.m. April 21 on St. Anna Road in Pembroke with a friend, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Hunt’s last contact with his family was via telephone about 9 p.m. that same day.
The person with whom Hunt was last seen was found about 10 p.m. April 21 after being involved in a car crash near U.S. 74 and Selma Road in Lumberton, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The person was taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
The investigation into Hunt’s death continues, said Wilkins, who declined to release more information.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Robeson County Emergency Management is assisting with the investigation.
Anyone with information about the case should call the Sheriff’s Office at 910-671-3100 or 910-671-3170.
