Body Identified as Missing Shaw Student; Former Boyfriend Charged with Murdering Her

Edwin Christopher Lawing, 22, was charged with first-degree murder inthe death of 20-year-old LaCoy McQueen. McQueen, a student at ShawUniversity, was reported missing May 17, 1996. She was last seen near theNCSU Bell Tower. Police said last May that Lawing was the last person tosee McQueen before her disappearance.

Highway workers in Vance County unearthed some human bonesThursday while workingalong U.S. 1 about two miles south of Kittrell near the Wake-Vance countyline. A positive identification of the remains was made Monday by theMedical Examiner's Office in Chapel Hill.

Sgt. J.M. Lynch of the Raleigh Police Department says Lawing had been asuspect in McQueen's disappearance for some time.

McQueen, who was 20 at the time of her death, is described as a popularand well-liked student at Shaw University. Some of her friends say theyare dealing with some terrible emotions after months of wondering whathappened to McQueen.

Regina Meyers says she's glad the waiting is over, but this is far fromwhat she'd hoped for.

Ron Cornelous, another of McQueen's friends, says he can't imagine why anyone would want to kill her.

Just after McQueen turned up missing, some whoknew her saidshe was pregnant and that she and Lawing had argued about it. Lynch sayspolice think McQueen's pregnancy might have been a contributingfactor in the dispute that led to her death.

Lynch would not comment on how McQueen died. Police say there was somuch suspicion regarding Lawing's involvement that they might have gone tothe grand jury without the body. The fact that McQueen's remains werefound only hastened his arrest, they said.