SCOTLAND COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Three people from Scotland County have been arrested for the 2021 murder of Brandon McDonald of Bladen County.
McDonald was first reported missing more than three years ago on March 25, 2021. He left his home in Clarkton that morning with plans to travel to Laurinburg, but was never seen or heard from again.
The Brandon Carl Wayne McDonald Joint Task Force was finally able to give McDonald’s family closure Friday, July 19.
Detectives from the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office and Special Agents from the NCSBI began re-examining the case in May of 2024. After continued investigation and newly generated information, the investigation began to move from a missing person to a homicide investigation.
The task force issued warrants for arrest July 19 for the following individuals:
- Michael Anthony “Blu” Bethea Jr, 32
- Charged with First Degree Murder, Felony Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Concealment of Death
- Shelena Lynn Clark, 37
- Charged with First Degree Murder, Felony Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Concealment of Death
- LaKeithan “Joe” JuJuan Tyson, 25
- Charged with First Degree Murder, Felony Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Concealment of Death
All three were arrested and placed in the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. They have their first court appearances Monday, July 22 at 9:00 a.m. in the Scotland County District Court section.
The Scotland County Sheriff’s Office shared in a Facebook post, “In addition to the agents from the NCSBI, we are appreciative of the multiple law enforcement agencies, search/rescue teams, canine units, fire departments, and emergency services who have spent countless hours over the past 3 years assisting in the investigation. Additionally, we are grateful for the family members and friends of Brandon Carl Wayne McDonald who never stopped pursuing justice for him.”
The investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information, you are asked to call Lieutenant E. Haywood at (910) 276-3385, the NCSBI at (800) 334-3000, or the Scotland County CrimeStoppers at (910) 266-8146.
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