SCOTLAND NECK, N.C. — A woman wanted in connection with the July killings of two Virginia Department of Transportation contractors was arrested Thursday in northeastern North Carolina, authorities announced.
Capture follows weeks-long search across region
The U.S. Marshals Service arrested 37-year-old Dennika Rachelle Boyce in Scotland Neck, about 25 miles south of Roanoke Rapids, Virginia State Police said Sept. 10. Boyce faces Virginia warrants that include two counts of second-degree murder and was also charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Virginia State Police Sgt. Jessica Shehan said the department is coordinating with North Carolina officials to move Boyce back to Chesterfield County to face the charges.
“Our department is working with authorities in North Carolina to extradite Boyce back to Chesterfield County,”
Investigators say the slayings occurred July 24 at a Virginia Department of Transportation job site near the Route 1 and Route 288 interchange north of Chester. The victims were identified as Rai’Shkn Eugene Delarge, 30, and Philip Avery Wilson, 34, both of Emporia.
Movements tracked on surveillance after the shootings
Authorities say Boyce, who had ties to both Emporia and North Carolina, fled the scene after the shooting. Surveillance footage later placed her at a Walmart in Ahoskie the same day. Two days after the killings, investigators say she was seen on video at a service station in Conway, North Carolina.
Her vehicle was recovered July 28 behind a church in Pendleton, N.C., which led investigators to believe she remained in the northeastern part of the state during the ensuing weeks.
The U.S. Marshals Service had offered a $10,000 reward for tips that would lead to her capture.
What happens next
Following an arrest on an unlawful flight charge, standard procedure calls for coordination between the arresting state and the state seeking prosecution. Virginia State Police indicated they are arranging extradition. Local North Carolina officials have not released additional details on any pending state-level charges in North Carolina.
There is no indication from the Virginia announcement that any court hearings have occurred in North Carolina. Extradition timelines can vary depending on legal filings and whether the suspect contests removal to the requesting jurisdiction.
- Arrest location: Scotland Neck, North Carolina
- Federal charge: Unlawful flight to avoid prosecution
- Virginia warrants: Two counts of second-degree murder
Timeline of key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 24 | Shooting at VDOT job site north of Chester; two victims killed |
| July 24 | Surveillance places suspect at Ahoskie Walmart |
| July 26 | Video reportedly shows suspect at service station in Conway, N.C. |
| July 28 | Suspect's vehicle recovered behind a Pendleton church |
| Sept. 10 | Arrest by U.S. Marshals in Scotland Neck, N.C. |
Authorities have said the suspect had a romantic relationship with one of the victims, according to the initial Virginia statement announcing charges. Beyond those details, officials have not released a motive publicly.
Community and investigative impact
The arrest brings to a close a weeks-long manhunt that extended into North Carolina and drew resources from multiple law enforcement agencies. The dual-jurisdiction aspect — a Virginia crime with a North Carolina arrest — underscores how regional cooperation among state and federal law enforcement can be central to locating suspects who cross state lines.
Victims' families and co-workers may still face investigations and legal proceedings in Virginia. The circumstances surrounding workplace safety at the VDOT site and any potential criminal or civil inquiries tied to the incident remain matters for local and state officials in Virginia to address.
There have been no additional statements from local North Carolina law enforcement about the arrest site or any charges to be pursued by the state.
As the extradition process moves forward, court dockets in Chesterfield County will likely reflect the next public steps: initial appearances, arraignment and the setting of bail or detention. Those proceedings will inform the timeline for a full criminal case in Virginia courts.
Anyone with information that may be pertinent to the case was previously urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service or Virginia State Police.
This report will be updated as officials release further information.
