18-year-old found dead inside car in Southern Pines was pregnant

According to the Southern Pines Police Department, the victim has been identified as Aiyonna Clarice Barrett, 18. Barrett's body was discovered around 8 p.m. inside a car on a dirt road near S. Gaines Street, police said.

Officials said Monday that the unborn child Barrett was carrying is also dead.

Friends said Barrett, who started the year as a senior at Richmond Senior High School in Richmond County before transferring to Southern Lee High School in Sanford, had big dreams and a great personality. They said the baby Barrett was pregnant with at the time of her death was due in early May.

Authorities said they do not believe Barrett's death was a random act of violence, and there is no known threat to the community. Investigators, however, have not publicly disclosed the cause of her death.

An autopsy was scheduled for Monday.

"At this time, there is no indication that that there needs to be any heightened concern for the community, and we are not asking that they change in their daily lifestyles,” Police Chief Bob Temme said.

The Southern Pines Police Department is asking anyone with additional information about the incident to call them at 910-692-7031 or Crime Stoppers at 910-693-4110.