Missing teen murdered
Precious Story went missing last Thursday
, Publisher
09-05-2007
Precious Story was described as a sweet, shy, quiet girl whose disappearance and subsequent murder have left her family, co-workers and friends devastated.“She will be missed more than any child will ever be missed,’’ said Story’s step mother Sondra Strahan. “Our family has been turned upside down. We will do everything we can to keep her mmory out there and let people remember she was a good kid and she was loved.’’
Story, 18, was reported missing last Friday morning. She was last seen on Thursday with a group of people and a pitbull puppy riding in a 1994 turquoise Pontiac Grand Am.
On Sunday, however, her body was discovered on State Line Road just east of Junction City in Union County, Arkansas.
Story’s body was discovered by two children on their way to go fishing.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder, James Lewis Jr., and Roger Lee Phillips Jr.
Union Parish Sheriff Bob Buckley said Story’s body has been positively identified as that of the missing Bernice teenager.
“We were good friends at work,’’ said Alicia Brumbley, assistant manager at the Bernice SuperValue grocery store, where Story worked as a cashier for two years. “She was real sweet, nice and shy. She was quiet. We’re all devastated. Work’s just not the same any more.’’
Lewis, of Bernice, was arrested Sunday night on charges of second degree murder and a bond of $350,000 was set. He is being held at the Union Parish Detention Center in Farmerville.
Phillips, of Strong, Ark., is charged with obstruction of justice with a bond of $50,000. He is being held at the Union Parish Detention Center as well.
According to Buckley, the cause of death has not yet been determined. The body has been sent to Little Rock, Ark., for an autopsy.
“The investigation is continuing,” Buckley said, “and more arrests may occur.”
Buckley would not comment on Story’s relationship with either Lewis or Phillips, but said she knew Lewis.
Brumbley said she did not know much about Story outside of work.
“She was a very good employee and everybody loved working with her,’’ Brumbley said. “The few people I saw her hang out with I knew, and they were good people. Everybody is down in the dumps and not really wanting to talk.’’
Story graduated from Bernice High School in 2007 and had begun taking classes at the Louisiana Technical College in Farmerville.
Strahan said her goal was to become an LPN.
“We told her when she got out of high school she would have a year to get school out of her system and decide what she wanted to do,’’ Strahan said. “She wanted to enjoy the summer and hang out with friends and one day when she was ready, go to vo-tech school and become an LPN. She had a goal in life.’’
Strahan said she does not know Lewis or Phillips and that when she left the house last Thursday, it was like any other day.
“It was a typical night,’’ Strahan said. “Sometimes she would come in from work and sit here or go to her friend’s house. I don’t know these people. I never heard their name mentioned. I don’t know why this happened. I can’t believe she would hang out with somebody like that.’’
Funeral Service will be held Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Pisgah Baptist Church in Bernice. Rev. Jerry Dark will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pisgah Baptist Church.
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