69-year-old Clinton woman's death under investigation

Clinton police said they found the body of Peggy J. Faircloth inside her home, at 105 W. Johnson St., after they were called there Thursday evening by a concerned relative who could not get in touch with her.

Investigators called the death "suspicious" Friday morning and said they are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine how Faircloth died. But in an earlier report, authorities said the case was being investigated as a homicide.

Authorities did not release any other information about the case, which has some neighbors nervous.

"Now, we're all scared because everything in this complex is just women," said Annie Bronson, who lives next door.

Bronson said it was Faircloth's sister who came by the house Thursday, could not get inside and called police.

Neighbors said they heard the home had been ransacked, but Clinton's police chief would not confirm that and said it doesn't appear Faircloth was robbed.

"I had been here all day and hadn't heard a thing," neighbor Linda Stone said. "That made me feel real bad to know something like that was going on just a few feet, really, away from me."

Stone said she would sometimes see Faircloth sitting on her front porch swing or getting into her Dodge Neon to drive to the grocery store. When Stone knocked on her door, Faircloth was always cautious.

"She would come to the door and she would not open it," Stone said. "She would say, 'Who is it?'"

Bronson said Faircloth had health problems and used an oxygen tank.

"I think it's a shame because she never bothered anybody," she said. "She would hold very little conversation with you because she wore oxygen and was always short-winded."

Clinton police are asking anyone with information about Faircloth's death to call the police department at 910-592-3105, the police department's tip line at 910-590-3009 or the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation at 910-486-1262.

They can also send an email to police at police@cityofclintonnc.us.