RAEFORD, N.C. — A quiet Hoke County neighborhood has been left heartbroken and stunned following a tragic double homicide and subsequent suicide involving a local family. The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies were dispatched to a residence on Cope Road around 6:04 p.m. on October 27, 2025, in response to a cardiac arrest call. What they discovered would reveal a devastating scene no one could have imagined.

Inside the home, deputies found 46-year-old Joann Nicole Chavis and 53-year-old Ted Matthew Chavis, both of Red Springs, unresponsive. Despite emergency efforts, both were pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives immediately began an investigation, which soon revealed that the couple had died from multiple stab wounds, turning what began as a medical call into a homicide investigation.

Authorities later identified the suspect as the couple’s 17-year-old foster child, D.P. In a tragic turn of events, after an extensive multi-agency search involving the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake Waccamaw Police Department, law enforcement located D.P. in Lake Waccamaw. Before officers could make contact, the teen reportedly took his own life from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The State Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case in Columbus County regarding the teen’s death, while Hoke County investigators continue to piece together the events that led to this horrific chain of events.

Sheriff Roderick Virgil expressed his sorrow and gratitude in a statement:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Chavis family, and everyone affected by this tragic incident. We are grateful for the assistance provided by our partnering agencies throughout this investigation.”

Friends, neighbors, and community members are reeling from the tragedy, describing Joann and Ted Chavis as loving, devoted people who had opened their hearts and home to children in need. Their loss has sent shockwaves through both Hoke and Robeson counties, as residents struggle to comprehend how such a tragedy could unfold.

The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate, urging anyone with additional information to contact Detective D. Austin at (910) 875-5111.

As the community mourns the loss of Joann and Ted Chavis, their legacy of kindness and care lives on — a reminder of their compassion and the fragility of life.