Police Make Arrest in Bullock Homicide

Lance Bullock was last seen playing disc golf June 13 at the Southern Pines Reservoir Park.

As of Friday, July 20, 2012

Moore County Sheriff's officials and Southern Pines Police have charged a 32-year-old Eagle Springs man in connection with the June slaying of Southern Pines resident Lance Bullock.

Authorities say Ricky Joe Harvel, of 175 Eagle Branch Road, is in the Moore County Detention Center in Carthage. An initial court date is scheduled for Aug. 9. He is charged with one count of murder and two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. The two firearms charges carry a $50,000 bond, but there is no bond on the murder charge.

Police say the FBI assisted in the investigation.

Courtesy/Moore County Sheriff's Office

Ricky Joe Harvel, 32, of Eagle Springs

Bullock, 34, was found in a remote quarry in the Glendon area of Moore County on June 26. Three days later, authorities confirmed Bullock had died of gunshot wounds.

Bullock’s family reported him missing on June 18 after he failed to show up for a family dinner to celebrate Father’s Day.

Prior to finding Bullock, authorities located his black Honda two-door coupe near Deep River Park in Sanford, just inside the Lee County line. The location of the vehicle was about five miles from where the body was found, authorities said.

Earlier this month, Harvel was charged with one count of felony possession of firearm by felon, one count of maintain vehicle/dwelling/place for control substance, possession with intent to sell and distribute marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a release from the department.

During an investigation of Harvel, it was determined that he was wanted in the state of Indiana for violation of probation on an aggravated assault charge in 1999. Harvel has been charged by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office as a fugitive from justice in Indiana.

Check back here for more details as they develop and see Sunday's edition of The Pilot for the full story.

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whatif 10 months ago

AWESOME!!! glad they have this guy and now maybe the family can get some closure.

aMuseMe 10 months ago

so glad to see an arrest has been made.

Tom_Embrey 10 months ago

We will have more in Sunday's paper. Lance's mom has said this is not closure yet, but it is a step on a journey. She was very thankful to law enforcement as well as to the family, friends and even strangers who have helped the family during this time of need.

Noluv4thugs 10 months ago

Glad to see this guy is behind bars. Sounds like he is a pretty dangerous dude. Let's see how bad he is now that he is facing murder 1. I hope that are justice system can seal the deal and get this guy convicted and on death row.

AngelofMercy 10 months ago

Innocent until proven guilty, None of you know this man- who he is, what he does. They haven't released evidence yet proving that this in fact was him

rosey 10 months ago

AngelofMercy you must not be familiar with how things go around here in Moore County, where cops are allowed to do as they please & elected officials do no wrong. No way this crime was done alone, let's see how this story unfolds, I look forward to Sundays update, maybe by then they will have made an arrest in the Shaw murder. Prayers to all the victims & families affected by these senseless murders.

peysmom 10 months ago

I hope this murderer gives answers for Lances family & loved ones before he burns in hell for his sins.

ChainGang1B 10 months ago

Man-oh-man. The suspect has a right to a jury of his peers. An arrest has been made based on the investigators establishing reasonable suspicion and probable cause. Then the evidence is presented to the Grand Jury, to decide on whether or not there is enough evidence for trial. A trial will be set and a jury will be selected. If he is found guilty the likelihood that Indiana will ever get him back to answer for charges there, will be slim to none. We still have the opportunity for the Death Penalty in NC, but is a highly under utilized program. Prison time in general in North Carolina is way too easy. The answer for a Capital crime is the Death Penalty and the sentence has to be carried out swiftly. No one has ever escaped from a cemetary, but many have escaped from prisons, even death row (Texas 7) is just one example.

How many readers remember all those that were quick to jump to conclusions and indicate that the Shaw murder and Bullock murder were related?

Tom_Embrey 10 months ago

This is an emotional issue for many people, but Remember please, that the accused is innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.

Tom_Embrey 10 months ago

And also know that there is much more to this case that won't come out now because the investigation is still open, and authorities are still gathering evidence for their case.

lakeview 10 months ago

" you must not be familiar with how things go around here in Moore County, where cops are allowed to do as they please & elected officials do no wrong. "

Oh no, here we go.

whatif 10 months ago

OK. so we assume this is the guy that did this to our friend Lance. Yes, The suspect is a friend to someone not me , and he has priors, and there is a reason he is in Jail. I pray that the family gets closure soon. This has been hard on a lot of people in our county and to his friends and family. God bless the Bullock Family.

JLG 10 months ago

Our family suffered a loss from murder in 2009. No matter the outcome (whether they convict someone or not) there is still a lose to the community. We morn our lose every day, just as the Bullock Family will from now on. The important thing is not how fast the person was caught, not the innocent until proven guilty or wait till all the facts come out: Its that a son, friend, and person was taken. Please respect the family, friends, and love ones of Lance. Until a conviction is handed down, nothing is set in stone.

Again, I add my 2 cents from personal experience. We were lucky, all involved in our murder were caught and convicted with solid evidence thanks to the amazing work of the police force

RmeMP 10 months ago

@JLG - GREAT POST my friend! +1

(sorry for your loss)

nbmoore 10 months ago

is he the only person or was he with someone else

rosey 10 months ago

Oh no here we go what??? With the truth, let's be for real people the chances of this guy being put on death row are slim to none, sad but true.

huh1234 10 months ago

Thank you Tom Embrey! We need to keep both parties in our thoughts. There is NO excuse for murder but there is a reason for everything. NO, it will never be fair but sadly this is reality. Look up and pray! After yesterday events we all need it!!!!

Tom_Embrey 10 months ago

@mbmoore - Authorities are still investigating. To now, they have not said anything about an accomplice.

Toda 10 months ago

Should the alleged murder receive a conviction, and death sentence, in all probability, he could live another 10 to 15 years on death row.

The last convicted murder who was euthanized to my knowledge was George "Jeff" Heatwall for murdering his step mother and a security guard at Woodlake.

The other convicted murder who was euthanized was David Junior Brown after 10 years on death row for the murders of Christy and Diane Chalfinch in the single quarters behind the Pinehurst Hotel. A very tragic and brutal murder. Browns signet ring was found in Diane's body ... but his case was appealed and appealed for years.

The state would rather provide room and board for a decade than to euthanize a guilty murder for pennies on the dollar. Why all the appeals in these type of cases where there is no doubt? Within a week their bodies should be rolled out on a gurney to an awaiting hearse.

theonewithsense 10 months ago

You are either guilty or not guilty. There is no "innocent until proven guilty." You are only innocent until proven guilty by court of law, which is not the same thing. People murder and get off. People get convicted of murder and are innocent.

This guy is guilty and will get life without parole.

clarabelle 10 months ago

"rosey - AngelofMercy you must not be familiar with how things go around here in Moore County, where cops are allowed to do as they please & elected officials do no wrong."

What the #### are you talking about?

TallShadow 10 months ago

@ Toda 54 minutes ago GEORGE F HEATWOLE does not show up on the list of those executed on NC Death Row. http://www.doc.state.nc.us/dop/deathpenalty/executed.htm

If memory serves correctly, he died of natural causes while on Death Row in 2002.

According to the list, the last execution in NC was 8/18/2006. This individual was convicted on 03/07/1995 in Forsyth County.

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Police Make Arrest in Bullock Homicide

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