North Carolina Teen Convicted in One Killing as Jury Deadlocks in 14-Year-Old Girl’s Murder Case
ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA — A high-profile double-murder trial involving the deaths of two teenagers ended with a split outcome this week, delivering a conviction in one killing while leaving the second death unresolved after jurors failed to reach a verdict.
Issiah Mehki Ross, 20, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Devin Clark, but a mistrial was declared in the case involving the killing of 14-year-old Lyric Woods, court officials confirmed Thursday.
Ross had originally been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 2022 shooting deaths.
Jury Reaches Verdict in One Death, Deadlocks on the Other
After nearly three weeks of testimony in Orange County Superior Court, jurors convicted Ross for Clark’s murder but were unable to reach a unanimous decision on the charge related to Woods’ death. The jury reportedly split 8–4 on the Woods count, prompting Judge Stephanie Reese to declare a mistrial.
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys jointly requested the mistrial after determining the jury was irreversibly deadlocked.
Prosecutors have indicated they are likely to seek a retrial in the Woods case.
What Happened the Night the Teens Were Killed
The case centered on events that unfolded in the early morning hours of September 16, 2022, when Ross, Clark, and Woods were riding together in a car. Only one of them would survive the night.
The bodies of Clark and Woods were discovered about 36 hours later in a field near a power line easement along Buckhorn Road outside Efland, after families reported both teens missing.
Autopsy reports showed Clark had been shot three times, while Woods suffered seven gunshot wounds.
Star Witness Describes Confession and Alleged Motive
A key moment in the trial came from testimony by Christian Sykes, who told jurors Ross confessed to the killings and boasted that the bodies were dumped where “nobody’s gonna find them.”
According to Sykes, Ross claimed Clark repeatedly pointed a handgun with a laser sight at him during the car ride, despite being told to stop. On the third incident, Ross allegedly attempted to grab the gun, triggering a struggle.
Sykes said Ross told him Clark fired shots during the struggle, after which Ross gained control of the weapon and shot Clark. Woods was then shot, Sykes testified, because “she saw everything that happened.”
Ross later claimed self-defense in both killings.
Sentencing: 20 to 25 Years in Prison
Judge Reese sentenced Ross to 20 to 25 years in prison for Clark’s murder. He will receive credit for time already served and must undergo psychiatric evaluation as part of his sentence.
During sentencing, the judge described the violence as deeply disturbing.
“I don’t know why so many shots were fired,” Reese said. “But it paints a horrible, horrible picture.”
She emphasized that Ross would still be able to speak with his family — something Clark can never do again.
Families React as Justice Remains Incomplete
Relatives of Devin Clark expressed heartbreak following the verdict.
“He was the glue of our friend group,” one cousin told local media. “He was taken away so early, and it still doesn’t feel real.”
Prosecutors stressed that the mistrial does not mean justice for Lyric Woods is over.
“This is not the end of the road for her case,” Assistant District Attorney Anna Orr said. “Justice is still being pursued.”
As the community waits to see whether prosecutors retry the case, two families remain forever changed by a night of violence that took the lives of two teenagers.
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