Inita Gaither, a 68-year-old African American woman from Clayton, North Carolina, was found dead at her home on Crawford Parkway on September 30, 2021, after a welfare check by the Clayton Police Department around 4:30 p.m. Authorities determined she had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators identified Gaither’s 31-year-old granddaughter, Camille Nechelle Singleton, as the suspect. After Gaither’s body was discovered, Singleton left the scene with her 2-year-old son, Dior Singleton, prompting an AMBER Alert; both were later located and taken into custody in Georgia on October 3, 2021. Reports indicate Singleton did not have custody of her son and that there had been tension between her and Gaither, though the exact reasons for that tension are not detailed.

The community described Gaither as a kind, devoted grandmother who often cared for neighborhood children. A prayer vigil was held in Clayton in her memory. Does anyone have information about Gaither’s life in Clayton or about events leading up to that day that could help the investigation?