FBI Seeks Help to Locate Dominic Liam Connelly, Accused of Killing Grandmother & Stabbing Deputy
Havelock & Vanceboro, North Carolina — November 11, 2025. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Dominic Liam Connelly (born December 7, 2000), wanted in connection with the murder of his grandmother and the stabbing of a sheriff’s deputy.
Connelly is accused of fatally stabbing his 72‑year‑old grandmother at her home in Havelock on October 25, 2025, and then setting the house on fire. On October 29, authorities say he assaulted a Craven County sheriff’s deputy at a fast‑food restaurant in Vanceboro in a failed attempt to evade arrest.
Arrest warrants list multiple charges: murder, first‑degree arson, attempted first‑degree murder, assault of a law‑enforcement officer causing serious injury, and resisting a public officer. The FBI’s Charlotte Field Office is coordinating with the Craven County Sheriff’s Office as part of the ongoing manhunt.
Connelly is described as 5′ 8″ tall, around 180 lbs, blond and brown hair, blue eyes. He is considered armed and dangerous, and may be hiding in wooded terrain along Highway 17 and Highway 43 near Vanceboro, North Carolina.
Law‑enforcement agencies emphasize that if anyone spots Connelly they should not approach him, but instead call 911 immediately. Tips can also be submitted via the FBI’s online tip portal or by contacting Crime Stoppers in Craven County.
The reward offered may increase as more resources are dedicated to the search, with recent media reports indicating the total could reach up to $10,000.The case has drawn urgent attention in the region, as schools and events were briefly suspended amid the manhunt.
