Fayetteville, N.C. — A soldier was sentenced to 15 to 19 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a case that drew widespread attention following the disappearance of his girlfriend, Annie Lock, in 2024. Tyrique Zavier Leroy Williams, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, entered his plea earlier this month, resolving critical aspects of a troubled investigation that left Lock’s family with questions for years.
Lock, who was reported missing in October 2024 — nearly two months after she was last seen — had been living with Williams at the time of her disappearance. Family members expressed their initial concern when they couldn’t reach her, believing that Williams would take the necessary steps to report her missing. This belief was ultimately proven incorrect, escalating their anxiety when they discovered he had failed to file a missing-person report.
The search for Lock lasted several months and turned even more urgent after a tragic discovery on April 13, 2025, when human remains were found in a pond in Robeson County, about 30 miles from where Lock was last seen. The remains were positively identified as hers a short time later, prompting authorities to shift the investigation into a homicide case. Williams was arrested three days post-discovery while he was undergoing Army training in Missouri.
The relationship between Lock and Williams had been complex; they shared a young child and Lock was reportedly around five weeks pregnant when she vanished. The situation was fraught with uncertainty for her family. After extending their own efforts to connect with Lock, they became increasingly suspicious about Williams’ lack of action regarding a missing-person report. These concerns deepened when relatives noted unusual textual communications purportedly from Lock’s phone, suggesting she wanted to go off the grid, although the validity of those messages remains unconfirmed.
In the aftermath of the investigation, the timeline surrounding the case revealed crucial details about Williams’ personal life, particularly his remarriage shortly after Lock’s disappearance, which intensified family apprehensions about Lock’s fate. They grew increasingly uneasy as the evidence of Williams’ actions, including his failure to contact authorities and his hasty marriage, was scrutinized by law enforcement.
After Williams’ plea, second-degree murder charges effectively replaced the initial first-degree accusations, though the circumstances of Lock’s death and the specific details surrounding her killing have yet to be fully disclosed or officially documented. The plea deal allowed for a quicker resolution without a trial, marking a significant development in a case that had been marked by prolonged uncertainty and emotional turmoil for Lock’s family.
Now, with Williams serving his prison term, the case serves as a reminder of the impact of domestic violence and the importance of timely reporting in missing-person situations. Community and family members alike hope that this case will foster greater awareness and preventive measures to protect those at risk. Lock is remembered fondly by her loved ones as a lively and creative individual, whose potential was tragically cut short.
As the legal proceedings conclude, Lock’s family will continue to seek closure from a tragedy that unraveled in their lives, highlighting the need for vigilance and support in similar situations. The case remains ongoing in the public eye, with many waiting for any further proceedings or revelations related to the investigation.