A little before 1 p.m. there were some signs that something was going on.
GUILFORD COUNTY -- Greensboro police say they found human remains in the back yard of a home in southeastern Guilford County. They started searching there early Thursday morning for the body of Sherri Jackson, who police say was murdered in 2006.
Several hours after the search started in the Gramercy Park neighborhood, family members arrived on the scene. “I thought if I could just see where the body is, where it's supposed to be, maybe that would bring some relief in some way,” said Clara Jackson, Sherri’s mother.
The 27-year old disappeared in late 2006. Soon afterwards, her boyfriend – 29-year-old DeCarlo Bennett – was charged. Police have searched before at the home he used to live on at Pine Meadows Court, but recently “we did receive a tip that her body was located at this location,” said Lt. Brian James of the Greensboro Police.
News 14 Carolina’s Bob Costner has more on the search efforts and the discovery.
As the search continued, family members took shade in a neighbor’s garage and watched and waited. A little before 1 p.m. there were some signs that something was going on. The backhoe stopped digging and photographs were taken. Then, a police car left the scene with a man in the back who was later confirmed to be Bennett.
"We have found what appears to be human remains in a shallow grave behind the residence,” said Capt. J.L. Rogers of the Greensboro Police shortly afterwards. “Right now we do not know who the remains belong to."
For family members who had been looking for closure, “It could be the best thing for us since it happened,” said the victim’s father, McArthur Jackson. “To have her remains, if this is Sherri … we are very grateful.”
The remains will be taken to the medical examiner’s office in Chapel Hill for identification. Thursday in a plea agreement, Bennett plead guilty to second-degree murder in the case. He faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Sherri Jackson
DeCarlo Rayshaun Bennett