Family, Friends Ask For Public's Help In Investigating Durham Woman's Murder

Tia Carroway was reported missing last week and found dead over the weekend. A preliminary autopsy report states she was shot once in the back of the head. Friends say Carroway was full of life.

"Tia was outspoken, outgoing, fun-loving. If there was a bad situation, she could make a joke out of it and make everybody calm down," said Sandy Roberts, a college classmate of Carroway.

The Durham County medical examiner said outside of the gunshot, there was no evidence that Tia Carroway, 23, suffered physical injury or sexual assault.

Durham police had been searching for Carroway since Thursday afternoon. According to a co-worker, that is when she left her job at Durham Regional Hospital to pick up lunch, and never came back.

The next day, investigators found Carroway's car abandoned on Roosevelt Street.

Early Saturday morning, police got an anonymous tip from someone at a pay phone. A short time later, they found Carroway's fully-clothed body in the middle of Alben Street off Cook Road in southern Durham. The old dirt road is commonly used for illegal dumping.

While police are releasing little information about leads in the murder investigation, they said a person is in custody who was shot during an argument with the victim's boyfriend Friday night.

"We do know that one individual did have an altercation with Ms. Carroway's boyfriend. Whether or not it is connected to this case, I don't know," said Lt. Norman Blake of the Durham Police Department.

The 19-year-old is being held in Central Prison's hospital. He was arrested on outstanding warrants for attempted robbery and larceny from 2001. He has not been charged in the Carroway case. Sources close to the case said he may have driven Carroway's car after she was killed.

Family members are asking people who may have information about the case to contact the police.

"We're drained and tired. We want to know. If anybody, any person knows anything, please come forth," said Marcie Hudson, Carroway's sister.

Carroway leaves behind a son who turned 2 years old on the day police discovered his mother's body. Full autopsy results are not expected for two weeks.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Durham Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.