John Jermaine Ausby, 42, of Weldon, North Carolina, was found dead on December 16, 2019, in a wooded area off Sycamore Street. His body was located about a week after a Silver Alert was issued; the alert followed a family report that he was missing on December 9, 2019. Family members said he was last seen on December 5, 2019, around 9 p.m., heading toward Roanoke Rapids.

Investigators determined Ausby had been shot in the upper torso with what appeared to be a small caliber weapon, and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, with help from the Weldon Police Department, opened a murder investigation. No arrests have been announced; police say they have been following leads. A cold case specialist has been assigned to review unsolved murders and is re-examining evidence using new technology.

If anyone knew John, his movements that week in December 2019, or has information about the area off Sycamore Street, please share what you know with investigators.