Case Details
- Photo URLs:
-
- Missing Since:
- Missing Since 09/14/2002
- Missing From:
- Missing From Red Spring, North Carolina
- Classification:
- Classification Endangered Missing
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- Race Black
- Date of Birth:
- Age:
- Age 40 years old
- Height and Weight:
- Height and Weight 5’4 – 5’9, 140 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description:
- Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Distinguishing Characteristics African-American male. Black hair, brown eyes. Leak may go by the name John Willie Leak.
- Details of Disappearance:
- James Leak disappeared from Red Springs, North Carolina on September 14, 2002. He was last seen driving away in a dark-colored Jeep from his home on Pevia Drive. He’s never been found.
Years later, in 2007, Reginald Junior Murphy was arrested and charged with Leak’s murder. Police think Murphy killed Leak at a place called the Campbell Compound on Johnson Road and buried him nearby to stop Leak from testifying against Murphy’s brother in a different murder case.
Murphy confessed to killing Leak (second-degree murder) in 2009 and went to prison for 10-13 years. Even though he told police where he buried the body, it was never found. Because of all this, police are certain Leak’s disappearance was a murder.
- Agency:
- Roberson County Sheriff’s Department 910-671-3100
- Source Links:
This person was missing Missing Since 09/14/2002