ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County commissioners have approved $40,000 for Crime Stoppers to help generate leads in several ongoing missing person cases.
Sheriff Mark Gulledge requested the funding earlier this month, asking the board to approve $10,000 per case.
“There’s still, very active investigations. Our investigators are assigned to these cases and we’re working, but I just need a little bit of extra help in hopefully moving the needle to close these cases out,” Gulledge said.
“These folks, unfortunately, have been missing for a while,” said Chairman Jeff Smart.
The funding requires a budget amendment and will be allocated to Richmond County Crime Stoppers, which collects anonymous tips.
During the discussion, Commissioner Rick Watkins asked whether providing a set amount per case would create expectations for future investigations.
“Personally, I would be more inclined to provide a budget, if it needs to be increased to the sheriff and let him use that on a case-by-case basis without having to come back to the commissioners,” Watkins said.
Watkins continued, “Anyone that’s missing— that’s extremely important to their family. But I’d rather let him [sheriff Gulledge] have some discretion and not set the precedent that we’re going to spend $10,000 in the future on every missing person. And that’s just my opinion.”
Commissioner Justin Dawkins asked Finance Director Cary Garner if there is a line item for Crime Stoppers.
“We make a small support to Crime Stoppers organization as a whole, but it’s $1,000 a year,” Garner said.
Garner said the funding goes toward the software used for the P3 Tips app and does not include reward money.
Commissioner Jamie Gathings addressed the sheriff before the vote.
“Sheriff I apologize you even have to come up here and ask for this. We have spent probably a million dollars in the last year, not even trying to save a life. You should have whatever you want. I mean, we spent $120,000 investigating me… As far as I’m concerned, you should get it with no problem. You shouldn’t have to ask for it,” Gathings said.
Commissioner Andy Grooms acknowledged Watkins’ concerns but said the board’s priority is helping locate the missing people. He also suggested adding an additional $10,000 from the commissioner allotment to support the investigations.
“For the time being, let’s try to do whatever we can to get some of these folks home,” Grooms said.
Before the vote, Dawkins asked the county attorney whether there would be a conflict of interest because his wife serves on the Crime Stoppers board. The attorney said there was no conflict because she would not directly benefit from the funding.
The board approved the $40,000 allocation. Gathings suggested holding off on using the $10,000 commissioner allotment until the $40,000 is spent.
Several missing person cases remain open in Richmond County.
Dennis Wayne Bailey was reported missing Jan. 2, 2025, and was last seen Dec. 28, 2024, in the Mizpah Road area. A $5,200 reward had previously been offered for information in his case.
Nicholas Drew Perkins, 36, was last seen June 24, 2025, near Mill Road Pawn in East Rockingham.
Joseph Michael Blake, who legally changed his name to Sol Vain Zivek, 51, was last seen at his Ellerbe home in March 2019. His last known communication was a text message sent March 29, 2019. Officials said Blake had been depressed following the death of his live-in girlfriend earlier that year. A search was conducted April 24, 2019.
Alvin “Bent” Benson Covington, 57, who suffers from early stages of dementia, was last seen Sept. 25, 2015, at the Food Lion on U.S. 1. He was reported missing Oct. 6, 2015. Officials said Covington had gone missing before and was found 20 days later in Lee County. There were reports of sightings in the Little Philadelphia community and areas of Cartledge Creek Road and Northside Drive, but those sightings were not verified.
Anyone with information about these cases can contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, call Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454, or submit tips through the P3 Tips app.