On April 8, 2018, the Southern Pines Police Department responded to a report of a deceased female in a vehicle located on a dirt road extending south off of South Gaines Street in Southern Pines.
Detectives investigating this case identified the victim as Aiyonna Barrett, 18, of Sanford. At the time of her death, Barrett was pregnant with a “full term” unborn child, who was additionally deceased.
On April 12, 2018, the Southern Pines Police Department arrested Brian Little, of Rockingham, for this crime charging him with first-degree murder and murder of an unborn child.
Brian Little.
On August 26, 2020, Little, age 20, appeared before the Honorable Judge James Webb in Moore County Superior Court. Little entered a plea of guilty to the charge of first-degree murder, as well as the charge of murder of an unborn child, for which he was sentenced to life in prison without the eligibility of parole.
Chief Bob Temme offered the following comment on the conviction of Little:
“I would like to take a moment to recognize all the officers at the Southern Pines Police Department who participated in this emotional and complex homicide investigation which was led by Southern Pines Police Lieutenant Kyle Marsh. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to Moore County District Attorney Maureen Krueger and the team at the District Attorney’s Office who shared in our passion to see that Aiyonna and her child were not forgotten in an overwhelmed criminal justice system. We all continue to grieve for the family and friends of Aiyonna and while we cannot return to this earth Aiyonna and her child, we never wavered in our responsibility to ensure that justice was served, and today, I believe we have done just that.”
Feature photo via Facebook: Aiyonna Barrett.
