Issiah Ross Trial Begins Nearly 4 Years After Lyric Woods, Devin Clark Murders
ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. — Nearly four years after The North Carolina Beat first identified then-17-year-old Issiah Ross as the suspect in the brutal murders of Lyric Woods and Devin Clark, Ross is now standing trial in Orange County Superior Court — and he is being tried as an adult.
Back on October 17, 2022, The NC Beat became the first outlet to publicly identify Ross in connection with the killings of Woods, 14, and Clark, 18, a case that broke the hearts of many through Orange County and surrounding communities. Both teens had been reported missing weeks earlier, after disappearing on September 16, 2022.
Their worst fears were realized when two men riding four-wheelers discovered the teens’ bodies in a wooded brush area near Buckhorn Road. Law enforcement later confirmed both Lyric and Devin had been shot multiple times. Our earlier reporting revealed the teens were gunned down on or around September 18, 2022, their young lives cut short in a remote area not far from home.
Now, in January 2026, Ross is finally facing a jury on two counts of first-degree murder.
Court proceedings officially began Monday, January 12, with the judge granting the state’s motion to join both murder charges into a single trial. Ross’s defense team immediately made clear their strategy: they are claiming self-defense, arguing Ross acted out of fear during the encounter that led to the shootings.
The defense also asked the court to sequester witnesses, requesting that they be barred from the courtroom and prohibited from discussing testimony prior to taking the stand. The judge granted that motion, with limited exceptions for family members of both the victims and Ross himself.
Behind the scenes, prosecutors had previously extended a plea deal to Ross. Under the offer, he would have pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and received a sentence ranging from 240 to 300 months per charge. Ross rejected the deal, maintaining his self-defense claim and opting to take his chances before a jury.
Ross’s age at the time of the killings — just 17 — sparked statewide outrage and directly contributed to changes in North Carolina law. The case helped usher in what is now known as “Lyric and Devin’s Law,” legislation that allows authorities to release a juvenile suspect’s name, photograph, alleged offenses, and threat assessment when certain conditions are met.
Those conditions include cases eligible for superior court, findings that the juvenile poses a danger, or a judge determining there is good cause for disclosure.
As the investigation into the deaths of Woods and Clark developed, sources provided documents to The North Carolina Beat detailing the condition of the victims when they were found.
According to the documents, Clark was wearing dark gray pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, black socks, and a white T-shirt underneath his sweatshirt. The documents stated that Clark’s pants were below his Reebok boxer briefs and that his abdomen appeared “exposed and swollen,” with maggots coming from his mouth.
While the documents did not list the number of gunshot wounds Clark sustained, they noted that he suffered gunshot injuries to his head and thigh areas.
The same documents stated that Woods was wearing gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt with red, white, and blue writing on the front, along with light blue socks. Investigators noted that one light-blue Crocs shoe was located near her right foot, while the other was found underneath her body.
The documents further stated that Woods had “several necklaces” around her neck and suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of her neck, with maggots coming from her mouth.
According to the documents, both of Woods’s hands were bloody, as were her face and head.
In additional records, police reported finding “several gold 9-millimeter Glock 43X shell casings” in the gravel area in front of Woods and Clark’s bodies, as well as red flip-flops near the edge of the grass.
In another significant decision before the jury comes in Tuesday, the state entered into a stipulation — signed by Ross’s attorney — agreeing that graphic crime scene and autopsy photos would be shown only to the jury and not displayed publicly in open court.
Both victims were students with their futures ahead of them. Devin Clark, from Mebane, was a senior at Eastern Alamance High School, preparing to graduate.
Lyric Woods, from Orange County, was a freshman at Cedar Ridge High School, just beginning her high school journey.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Ross faces life in prison.
The North Carolina Beat will continue to provide coverage and updates as this trial continues.
