William Joseph Clifton, 48, a former Onslow County deputy and one-time school resource officer at Southwest High School, was found dead in Woodlands Park in Jacksonville, North Carolina on July 7, 2017. His body was discovered at 6:30 a.m. and the autopsy listed multiple gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to the head; a gunshot that entered the left side of his body, passed through his heart and severed his aorta was specifically noted.

Investigators described a troubled relationship between Clifton and an 18-year-old woman, Caitlyn Ridgeway. Court records say Clifton had sent her pictures of guns and pills, threatened her, and on two occasions tied her to a bed; a protective order issued in February 2016 required him to stay away from Ridgeway and her family for one year, but he continued contacting her and later resigned from the Sheriff’s Department after an internal inquiry.

An 18-year-old man, Will James Welch Jr., was also charged in connection with Clifton’s death. According to a statement attributed to Welch, he encountered Clifton at the park while Clifton was hugging and kissing Ridgeway, attacked him, took his gun and shot him multiple times. Legal proceedings were pending for both suspects at the time.

If anyone knew Clifton, Ridgeway, Welch, or observed activity in Woodlands Park on July 7, 2017, can you share information that might help the ongoing investigation?