On the morning of January 7, 1998, five-year-old Brittany Lynn Locklear stood at the end of her family's driveway in rural Raeford, North Carolina, waiting for her school bus—just as she had so many mornings before.

When her mother stepped inside for only a few moments, Brittany disappeared.

What followed was one of North Carolina's most heartbreaking child abduction cases. Less than twenty-four hours later, Brittany's body was discovered only a few miles from her home. Despite an enormous search effort, hundreds of tips, and decades of investigation, her killer has never been identified.

In this episode of Lurk: Stab & Gab, we examine Brittany's final morning, the eyewitness accounts that helped shape the investigation, the physical evidence that detectives still believe could solve the case, and the enduring hope that advances in DNA technology may finally bring justice to a little girl whose life was stolen far too soon.

In This Episode

• Brittany Locklear's life and family
• The timeline of January 7, 1998
• The terrifying abduction from her school bus stop
• The massive search that followed
• Discovery of Brittany's body
• Physical evidence recovered by investigators
• The mysterious pickup truck witnesses reported seeing
• Persons of interest and investigative leads over the years
• Advances in DNA technology and why investigators remain hopeful
• How Brittany's case continues to impact her family and the Lumbee community
• What listeners can do if they have information

Listener Discretion

This episode discusses the kidnapping and murder of a young child. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

If You Have Information

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate Brittany Locklear's murder. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the SBI at (800) 334-3000. Investigators believe even information that may seem insignificant could prove valuable.

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If you enjoy Lurk: Stab & Gab, please consider:

• Following the podcast
• Leaving a five-star review
• Sharing this episode to help keep Brittany's story alive
• Joining the conversation on Facebook for behind-the-scenes discussions and upcoming episode announcements

Justice delayed is not justice denied. Someone knows what happened that January morning in Raeford, North Carolina.

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For centuries, the lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay have stood as silent guardians, guiding ships safely through storms, fog, and dangerous shoals. But according to generations of lighthouse keepers, watermen, Coast Guard crews, and visitors, some of these lonely beacons may still be occupied by those who once tended their lights.

In Part 1 of this special two-part series, we begin our journey at the northern reaches of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and travel south, exploring the history, folklore, and reported paranormal activity surrounding some of the region's most historic lighthouses.

From phantom keepers climbing empty staircases to mysterious lanterns appearing in abandoned towers, we'll uncover eyewitness accounts, historical records, local legends, and forgotten stories that have echoed across the Bay for generations.

Are these simply tales born from isolation and the harsh realities of lighthouse life...

or are some keepers still standing watch?

In this episode we visit:

• Turkey Point Lighthouse
• Concord Point Lighthouse
• Pooles Island Lighthouse
• Baltimore Harbor Light
• Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse
• Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse
• Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse
• Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse
• Hooper Strait Lighthouse
• Sharps Island Lighthouse
• Cove Point Lighthouse
• Drum Point Lighthouse
• Hooper Island Lighthouse
• Holland Island Bar Lighthouse
• Point No Point Lighthouse
• Solomons Lump Lighthouse

Featured Topics

• Haunted lighthouse keepers
• Ghostly apparitions
• Phantom lanterns
• Unexplained footsteps
• Maritime folklore
• Chesapeake Bay history
• Historic lighthouse keepers
• Lighthouse legends
• Eyewitness paranormal encounters
• Maryland ghost stories

Interested in following the restoration of several historic Chesapeake Bay lighthouses, including Wolf Trap and Hooper Island?

Visit: The Lighthouse Center

Coming Up in Two Weeks...

Our journey continues in The Haunted Lighthouses of the Chesapeake Bay – Part 2 as we cross into Virginia and investigate some of the Bay's most legendary paranormal locations, including:

• Point Lookout Lighthouse
• Piney Point Lighthouse
• Fort Washington Lighthouse
• Smith Point Lighthouse
• Wolf Trap Lighthouse
• New Point Comfort Lighthouse
• Thimble Shoal Lighthouse
• Old Point Comfort Lighthouse
• Newport News Middle Ground Lighthouse
• Cape Charles Lighthouse
• Cape Henry Lighthouses

Including one location that many paranormal investigators consider among the most haunted places in America.

🎧 Listen & Follow

You can find Lurk on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts lurk.

If this episode stirred something in you, consider:

• Leaving a five-star review
• Sharing it with someone
• Following us so you never miss a story from the shadows

Subscribe & Follow:
Don’t miss future episodes of Lurk! Follow us on Spotify Apple Podcasts etc. and hit that subscribe button.

Join the conversation: Follow us on social media for updates, discussions, and to share your thoughts on this case.

Lurk on Facebook
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Lurk on Instagram
We have a new Facebook Group join in the discussion! Lurk Podcast Facebook Group

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We are also now found on YouTube- Lurk on YouTube

Background Music Royalty and Copyright Free Music
Intro and Outro music purchased through AudioJungle
with Music Broadcast License (1 Million)

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Maine – Where the Appalachian Trail Ends... and Something Else Begins

The Appalachian Trail ends in Maine—but for many hikers, the stories begin there.

In this episode of LURK, we travel into the most remote section of the Appalachian Trail, where ancient mountains, endless forests, and miles of wilderness have given rise to legends that refuse to die.

We'll explore:

• The eerie isolation of the Hundred-Mile Wilderness
• The ancient Wabanaki legend of Pamola, the powerful guardian spirit of Mount Katahdin
• The unsettling folklore surrounding Gulf Hagas, known as the "Grand Canyon of Maine"
• Mysterious lights, unexplained voices, and the feeling of being watched in one of America's wildest landscapes
• Why many experienced hikers say Maine isn't just physically demanding—it's spiritually unsettling

Whether you're fascinated by paranormal encounters, Appalachian folklore, or the mysteries hidden in America's last great wilderness, this episode ventures into one of the most haunting stretches of trail you'll ever hear about.

Have your own haunted hiking story or unexplained encounter?

Share your story at lurkpodcast.com. Your experience might appear in a future episode!

🎧 Listen & Follow

You can find Lurk on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts lurk.

If this episode stirred something in you, consider:

• Leaving a five-star review
• Sharing it with someone
• Following us so you never miss a story from the shadows

Subscribe & Follow:
Don’t miss future episodes of Lurk! Follow us on Spotify Apple Podcasts etc. and hit that subscribe button.

Join the conversation: Follow us on social media for updates, discussions, and to share your thoughts on this case.

Lurk on Facebook
Lurk on Twitter
Lurk on Instagram
We have a new Facebook Group join in the discussion! Lurk Podcast Facebook Group

New Merch Store!

We are also now found on YouTube- Lurk on YouTube

Background Music Royalty and Copyright Free Music
Intro and Outro music purchased through AudioJungle
with Music Broadcast License (1 Million)

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show