HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — The Issiah Ross murder trial is officially underway in Orange County, nearly four years after the deaths of teenagers Lyric Woods and Devin Clark.
Ross, now 21, is accused of killing the two teens in September 2022 and is being tried as an adult, despite being 17 years old at the time of the alleged shooting. After rejecting a plea deal that would have reduced the charges, Ross has pleaded not guilty and claims he acted in self-defense.
Issiah Ross Rejects Plea Deal in Double Murder Case
Court proceedings moved forward Tuesday after Issiah Ross declined a plea agreement offered by the state. Prosecutors proposed reducing the charges to two counts of second-degree murder, a move that would have removed the possibility of a life-without-parole sentence. Ross rejected the offer and did not submit a counterproposal, clearing the way for a full jury trial.
Ross faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark, whose bodies were discovered in a remote area of Orange County.
Judge Grants Key Motions as Trial Gets Underway
Before testimony began, the judge ruled on several motions that will shape how the case is presented to jurors. The court approved combining both homicide charges into one joint trial and ordered that witnesses be excluded from the courtroom while testimony is ongoing, with limited exceptions.
Ross was also allowed to proceed with a self-defense claim, though prosecutors noted the filing was submitted late. The judge stated the trial could last up to two weeks, depending on the number of witnesses and expert testimony presented.
To avoid potential juror bias, courtroom seating is being closely managed to ensure jurors remain separated from family members of both the victims and the defendant.
Jury Selected as Trial Moves Forward in Orange County
A jury consisting of 12 jurors and three alternates has now been seated. Alternate jurors were finalized late Tuesday.
Opening Statements Detail Deadly Shooting
Opening statements began with prosecutors outlining how Lyric Woods and Devin Clark were allegedly shot multiple times after making plans to meet up on the night of September 16, 2022. Family members of both teens were present in the courtroom as graphic details of the case were introduced.
During opening remarks, Devin Clark’s mother, Tiffany Concepcion, became visibly emotional and briefly left the courtroom as attorneys described the final moments leading up to the teens’ deaths.
Parents of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark Testify
Jurors heard emotional testimony from the victims’ parents as the prosecution established a timeline of events surrounding the teens’ disappearance.
Elizabeth Cannada, Lyric Woods’ mother, testified that she last saw her daughter around 11 p.m. the night she went missing. When Lyric failed to come home or respond to calls, Cannada reported her missing the following day.
Dexter Clark, Devin Clark’s father, also testified, stating he reported his son missing Sunday morning after repeated phone calls went unanswered and went straight to voicemail — something he said was completely out of character.
Deputy Describes Scene Where Teens Were Found
An Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputy testified about the condition of the scene where the teens were discovered off Buckhorn Road. The deputy described signs of decomposition and disturbing details at the location where the bodies were found.
Two additional witnesses, who discovered the bodies while riding ATVs along a remote trail, testified that they immediately turned around after realizing what they had come across and returned home to contact 911.
Defense Claims Self-Defense as Experts Expected to Testify
According to court filings, jurors are expected to hear from nine expert witnesses throughout the trial. Those experts may include an FBI special agent, a forensic scientist, and other specialists who will testify about evidence, investigative methods, and forensic findings tied to the case.
Their testimony is expected to play a major role as the defense argues that Ross acted in self-defense, while prosecutors maintain the killings were intentional.
This is an active and ongoing trial. The North Carolina Beat will continue providing updates as new testimony, rulings, and evidence are presented in court.
