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MURFREESBORO – Three individuals are in custody, charged in the death of a local man who was originally reported missing.

Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes identified those charged as 17-year-old Omarion Drake, 41-year-old Norman White, and 50-year old Charita Cherry. All reside in the 1100 block of Benthall Bridge Road, located south of Murfreesboro.

Drake is held, without bond, in the Pitt County Juvenile Detention Center on one count each of first-degree murder and concealment of death.

White is under a $300,000 secured bond on the charges of accessory after the fact and concealment of death. Cherry’s bond was set at $150,000 on the charge of accessory after the fact. Both made their initial court appearances on Tuesday. Each remains confined at the Hertford County Detention Center.

Hayes said the victim is 49-year-old Stacy Mabine. Human remains, believed to be those of Mabine, were discovered on the property where he was shot to death.

The Sheriff added that those remains are now in the possession of the State Medical Examiner’s Office where a forensic analysis will be performed.

As of right now, Hayes said he wasn’t 100 percent sure as to the timeline of Mabine’s disappearance and eventual homicide.

“All I can tell you right now is that a family member reported Mr. Mabine missing on Jan. 25 and we sent investigators to his last known address – 1108 Benthall Bridge Road – on Jan. 27,” Hayes said.

Hayes said Lt. Chase Oliver and Sgt. Keith Lassiter, along with on-duty shift deputies, arrived at that residence and began their investigation, initially speaking with the landowner (Norman White), and the girlfriend of the missing person (Charita Cherry).

“My investigators noticed some inconsistencies in their statements as to the location of Stacey Mabine and the last time he was seen,” Hayes said. “I was contacted by Lt. Oliver and he informed me of what was happening and requested additional assistance of all deputies.

“After several more interviews, it was revealed us that Stacy Mabine had been murdered and this was no longer a missing person investigation, but a homicide investigation,” Hayes said.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the State Medical Examiner’s Office were called to assist with the crime scene.

Hayes said the investigation is ongoing.

“Thank you to the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit and the uniform deputies for their work and their long hours on this case. I would like to thank the North Carolina State of Bureau of Investigations Crime Scene Unit,” said Hayes.