On December 29, 2021, Ladawn Edwards, 27, of Sparta, NC was found deceased in a field off of Gold Hill Rd in Madison N.C. Earlier that morning Zachary Joseph Taylor, 22, also of Sparta, had attempted to report Edwards as a Missing Person to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.

During the course of the investigation,Taylor admitted to trading methamphetamine to Ladawn for Suboxone that she had in her possession prior to her death on Dec. 19th. Taylor and Edwards were previous acquaintances and were sitting together in a field off of Gold Hill Rd in Madison talking after the trade took place.

Taylor went into a nearby wooded area to relieve himself and when he returned to the field he found Edwards deceased. Taylor left Edwards in the field and then attempted to report her as missing the next morning.

Taylor was charged with Death by Distribution, Concealment of Death, Altering Criminal Evidence and Resist Obstruct Delay an Officer. On October 22, 2022, Taylor plead guilty in Rockingham County Superior Court to all charges and received an active sentence of 50 to 72 months.