Jackie Lamar Bright, a 42-year-old parolee, was charged with one count of murder following the discovery of a 55-gallon barrel containing the dismembered remains of Michael Bradley Cox, aged 40, who had been last seen on Christmas Eve.
The barrel was found in a wooded area located on Bright’s property on Farrell Road in Sanford, North Carolina, located around 36 miles southwest of Raleigh. It took authorities a day to find the remains after executing a search warrant.
It remains unclear what the motive was for the crime, nor has it been revealed how Bright and Cox were connected.
On January 6th, warrants were served at the suspect’s home. Bright was then taken into custody after police found a stolen vehicle and drug paraphernalia. Bright made bail, and then a few days later, on January 11th, 2023, Bright was arrested again by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for parole violation and additional Controlled Substance violations.
Bright has a lengthy criminal history and was released from prison in May 2022. He was on parole when the Lee County Sheriff’s Office initially arrested him on January 6th, 2023, for charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Controlled Substance violations.
Further charges are expected as the investigation progresses.
Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes emphasized his appreciation for the help that was rendered during the investigation as numerous departments pitched in.
He said, “I would like to thank Lee County Emergency Services, Moore County Emergency Services, Deep River Fire Department, Cypress Point Search and Rescue Dive Team, the North Carolina SBI, NC Trooper Association K9 unit, NC K9 ERT, Sanford Public Works, Moore County Public Works, and the dedication of the men and women of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work.”
Estes also offered his condolences to the family adding, “I would also like to extend my condolences and prayers to the family of Michael Bradley Cox.”
Bright is currently in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Corrections.