As Joshua ‘Josh’ Davis’ parents were consoled by mourners at his funeral they could never have imagined that among them was someone who potentially knew what had happened to their 16-year-old son in his final moments.
Josh was killed on January 6, 2004, in what was initially ruled a hit-and-run by police, but a resurfaced tip from 2010 has blown the case wide open as investigators work to solve what they have now called a homicide.
The teen had been walking in the residential neighborhood of Garner, North Carolina, with his cousin when his relative ran home to fetch something. When he returned a few minutes later, Josh was lying on the side of the road covered in blood, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI).
As previously reported by the Daily Mail, Detective Megan Potter of the Four Oaks Police Department has now been named as a person of interest in the case.
The NCSBI obtained a warrant and searched Potter’s home in late March, seizing laptops and other electronics as potential evidence, the warrant viewed by the Daily Mail revealed.
Potter has not had any official charges filed against her in connection with Josh’s death.
Josh’s father, Dave Davis, told the Daily Mail that Potter had gone to high school with his son and he was shocked to learn she had attended his funeral services.
He said that after Potter was named as a person of interest, he spoke to Josh’s mother, Judy Creech, who recalled meeting her at their son’s wake.
She said that she remembered Potter giving her a hug at the service and offering condolences.
Davis said Potter was a mutual friend of his son’s, but he had not heard of her until last November, when police continued their investigation.
One of Josh’s best friends, William Ward, told the Daily Mail that he was also ‘shocked’ when Potter was named a person of interest.
He said his brother knew Potter, but he and Josh’s friend group had not known her in high school.
‘Josh might have known who she was but they were definitely not friends at all, and I, nor our other best friend Austin, had ever heard her name come out of Josh’s mouth,’ he added
The warrant said that Potter was interviewed by the NCSBI and the Garner Police in September 2025 in connection with the 2010 tip from her ex-husband.
Authorities have not disclosed why there was a significant gap between Potter’s interview, the search and when the tip came in.
Potter told investigators that she was aware her ‘ex-husband had implicated her involvement in the murder,’ the warrant stated.
Investigators found ‘inconsistencies’ in Potter’s testimony, according to the search warrant. They interviewed her ex-husband in November, and said he gave a consistent statement that matched his 2010 tip.
Authorities then asked to schedule a follow-up interview with Potter, but she was allegedly ‘uncooperative,’ according to the search warrant.
She told NCSBI in January that she would not agree to an interview held anywhere other than at the Four Oaks Police Department.
Chief Stephen Anderson of the Four Oaks Police Department confirmed that Potter had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation on April 16.
Josh’s younger sister, Alyssa Hatcher, told the Daily Mail that she was hopeful that after 22 years, there had finally been a break in her brother’s case.
‘I really hope all of this is so blown up and we get the closure that we’ve hoped for,’ she said.
When asked about Potter, Hatcher said that she had ‘no anger’ towards her and just wanted answers about her brother’s death.
‘I just hope she talks. I hope she comes forward. I hope she just puts the people who need to be behind bars there,’ Hatcher explained.
‘To keep my sanity and my happiness, I have peace thinking that she became an officer to apologize to my brother,’ she added.
‘That she didn’t know what to do, and she didn’t know how to come forward, so maybe she can help bad people.’
Josh’s family said they were not aware of the tip in 2010. Davis said he believes authorities did not investigate it because they chalked it up to actions from a disgruntled ex.
‘Her ex-husband reported that she told him exactly what happened. We never heard that … until now,’ Davis said.
Josh’s family and friends believe that there were three people in a vehicle involved in his death.
They accused one of the men of ‘bragging’ about what happened on the night that Josh was killed.
Hatcher, who works as a hairdresser in Garner, said that she has long been told by clients that they have been at parties where one of the men ‘bragged about killing her brother.’
The family believes that one of the individuals in the vehicle was angry with Josh over a dispute about a girl, and ‘happened upon’ him while they were driving that night.
The Daily Mail has reached out to NCSBI for comment on the allegations, but authorities have not confirmed any other people of interest in the case.
‘The SBI and Garner PD investigations are very active and ongoing. The SBI does not have any additional information to share publicly at this time,’ Officer Chad Flowers said in a statement.
As the investigation continues, Josh’s family has been forced to wait with bated breath for answers.
Over the past two decades, they have come to terms with not knowing what happened on the night Josh was killed.
Now, their lives have been turned upside down. ‘I’ve learned to live with thinking I’ll never know to knowing,’ Davis said.
Hatcher told the Daily Mail that the mood in Garner has been ‘chaos’ since Potter’s home was searched.
‘I have some clarity that hopefully an arrest is coming soon,’ she added.
Hatcher described her older brother as the ‘typical cute kid’ who was always the center of attention.
‘It was annoying. He was so good at everything. He’s like, “Oh, I wanna start dirt biking today,” and next thing you know, he’s doing these crazy tricks on a dirt bike,’ she recalled.
‘Or, “Oh, I’m gonna go skateboard today,” and he’s doing trick flips within two days. He was the kid who didn’t have to study, and he got straight As.’
Davis said he believes that up until his son’s tragic death, Josh ‘lived a good life.’ ‘I get comfort in that,’ he added.
The investigation into Josh’s death is ongoing. Law enforcement has asked anyone with information on the case to contact the Garner Police Department or the NCSBI.
The Daily Mail has approached Potter for comment.
Originally published with The Daily Mail on May 10, 2026
Read originally published article here
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