The case of the 1979 abduction and death of 11-yearold Sabrina Buie in North Carolina remains open following a suspect’s arrest in the case in December of 2018. Michael Eugene Tyler, a local auto mechanic, was arrested and charged with the murder of Sabrina Buie.
Prior to Tyler’s arrest, police had not made any progress in the case in decades. The break came with a new investigation into the case in 2016. Witnesses were re-interviewed and the bedroom where Sabrina was taken from was tested for evidence. Police believe that Tyler abducted Sabrina from her bedroom while her family slept, took her to an isolated area and then killed her.
Despite the arrest of Tyler, the case remains open as police believe a second perpetrator may have been involved in the crime. It is believed Sabrina had been sexually assaulted before her death, indicating multiple perpetrators beyond Tyler were likely involved. Investigations into the case are ongoing.
