Executive Summary
- Dominic Liam Connelly was arrested Thursday in Vanceboro, ending a multi-day manhunt.
- Charges include the murder of his grandmother, arson, and the attempted murder of a deputy.
- The operation involved federal and state agencies, utilizing aerial and tactical surveillance.
- Connelly will be transferred to a Raleigh facility for medical care and security.
A multi-agency manhunt for a 24-year-old murder suspect concluded early Thursday morning with an arrest in Vanceboro, North Carolina. Dominic Liam Connelly, wanted in connection with the death of his grandmother and the attempted murder of a sheriff’s deputy, was taken into custody without incident shortly after midnight, according to law enforcement officials.
Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes confirmed that authorities located Connelly in an abandoned structure near Muddy Lane in Vanceboro. The suspect had been evading capture since October 25, following the alleged stabbing death of his grandmother in Havelock and the subsequent arson of her home. Connelly faces a litany of charges, including murder, first-degree arson, motor vehicle theft, attempted first-degree murder, and assault on a law enforcement officer causing serious injury.
The search intensified after an incident on October 29, where Connelly allegedly stabbed a deputy at a fast-food restaurant in Vanceboro to escape arrest. Sheriff Hughes noted that the operation to capture Connelly utilized significant resources, including support from the U.S. Marshals Service, the State Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Tactical assets such as drones, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and K-9 units were deployed during the search.
Upon his arrest, Sheriff Hughes stated that Connelly appeared to be in poor health. “I’m pleased with the outcome,” Hughes said. “I’m glad that it was not an outcome that resulted in the death of Mr. Connelly or any of our officers. All we wanted from day one was a peaceful ending and resolution, and that’s what we got in this case.”
Due to the suspect’s medical condition, authorities plan to transfer him to a detention facility in Raleigh. “He’s going to have a first appearance, my intentions are to send him to Raleigh for safe keeping because they can provide better medical care than we’re able to do here,” Hughes explained. Following medical stabilization, Connelly is expected to be remanded back to court to answer to the charges.
Procedural Next Steps
The arrest marks the transition from a high-intensity fugitive search to a judicial process. The decision to transfer the defendant to Raleigh indicates a prioritization of custodial security and medical liability management before court proceedings fully commence. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office has indicated that the investigation remains active regarding potential accomplices who may have aided Connelly’s flight. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
