On Thursday, police officers arrested and charged the man believed to have murdered 18-year-old Aiyonna Barrett and her unborn child this week.
Brian Lovon Little was charged with first-degree murder in the double homicide, The Aberdeen Times reports. According to Barrett’s sister, Little was the father of the unborn child.
The murder of the pregnant teen shocked the Southern Pines, N.C. community where Barrett was found dead in a car on a dirt road Sunday evening.
Because she had reached full-term with her pregnancy, the case is now being pursued as a double homicide. She was due to welcome a baby girl into the world on May 4.
“This is devastating news for our family,” her family said in a public statement. “Aiyonna was a prized member of our family and we were also eagerly awaiting the arrival of her baby girl. We are in shock and are looking forward for more information to be revealed by the law enforcement investigation on how and why this happened.”
They added: “Nothing will justify Aiyonna and her unborn baby girl being taken away from us but we expect justice to be served on the person who took them from us.”
Little has been charged and is currently being held without bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for April 24.