Darrius Lavale Tyson is a Durham, North Carolina man awaiting trial on murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, and burglary charges in connection with the 2022 disappearance of Shawn Samuel Burton, a 44-year-old club promoter and father of six. Prosecutors have identified Tyson as the highest-ranking Blood gang member in North Carolina, a status they say he confirmed to law enforcement. While held pretrial, he became the center of a separate Durham County Detention Center scandal in which two employees were charged with felonies after he allegedly impregnated them, and a third pleaded guilty to taking a bribe to smuggle him a cell phone.
The Burton Disappearance
Shawn Burton, a promoter at Club 9one9, was last seen the evening of March 22, 2022, after leaving home to promote an upcoming event. He never arrived. His wife told reporters the family believed he had been abducted.1WRAL. Shawn Burton Reported Missing in Durham
The next day, police found Burton’s truck parked on a railroad track in Warren County, roughly 60 miles northwest of Durham, with blood inside.2WRAL. Shawn Burton Truck Recovery in Warren County Investigators later recovered Ring doorbell footage showing Burton held at gunpoint by three masked men who forced him to unlock a building; the location was ransacked and contained blood in the kitchen.3Indy Week. In Durham Court, a Murder Without a Body Burton’s body has never been found. He left behind a wife of 14 years and six children, all under ten.4Oxygen. Darrius Tyson Arrested in Disappearance of Shawn Burton
Investigators tied Tyson to Burton through phone records and vehicle tracking. A vehicle belonging to Tyson had traveled alongside Burton’s truck from Durham to Henderson and then to Warren County. When authorities seized Tyson’s vehicle, they found blood inside it as well.2WRAL. Shawn Burton Truck Recovery in Warren County Prosecutors believe the suspects disposed of Burton’s body somewhere along that route.
Charges, Co-Defendants, and Trial Status
An arrest warrant was issued for Tyson on April 13, 2022, alleging he conspired with at least three others to murder Burton. The warrant stated Tyson confined and moved Burton without his consent, that Burton was seriously injured, and that he was not released in a safe place.5News & Observer. Darrius Tyson Charged in Disappearance of Shawn Burton Tyson was arrested in early May 2022 and initially held on $2 million bail.
In February 2023, a grand jury indicted Tyson along with Brentley Yancey, 34, charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree burglary, and conspiracy to commit murder, and Tariq Shaemar Henderson.6WRAL. Grand Jury Indictments in Shawn Burton Case3Indy Week. In Durham Court, a Murder Without a Body Tyson’s charges were upgraded to murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, and burglary.
Tyson’s defense attorney, Daniel Meier, has argued that Burton was Tyson’s promoter and that Tyson had no motive to kill him. A judge declined to reduce Tyson’s $1.25 million bond. The murder trial was originally set for February 2025 and has since been delayed. No trial date has been confirmed and no verdict has been reached.7WRAL. Blood Gang Leader Impregnates Durham Jail Workers
“King Blood” and Conduct Inside the Jail
Durham County Assistant District Attorney Mary Jude Darrow told the court that Tyson admitted to law enforcement he is the highest-ranking Blood gang member in North Carolina. His nickname on the county corrections website is “King Blood.” Prosecutors alleged he used that status to obtain drugs and sex while incarcerated at the Durham County Detention Center. According to Darrow, Tyson used an illegal cell phone to coordinate drug deals and money drops outside the jail, activity law enforcement verified by monitoring his communications. Officials also reported recovering a vape pen and marijuana that had been delivered to him inside the facility.7WRAL. Blood Gang Leader Impregnates Durham Jail Workers Tyson has not been formally charged with drug trafficking or organized crime offenses beyond his existing murder-related charges.8Yahoo News. Gang Kingpin in Jail on Murder Charges
Three Jail Employees Charged
Prosecutors alleged Tyson impregnated two detention center employees: Jade Shanicia Lanique Robertson, a 27-year-old detention sergeant hired in 2019 and promoted in September 2022, and L’Erin Burnette, a 41-year-old contracted nurse. According to the warrants, the alleged sexual activity with both women occurred on the same day in August 2024.9Law & Crime. Accused Murderer Who Calls Himself King Blood Allegedly Impregnated Jailer and Nurse
Robertson was arrested on September 9, 2024, and immediately terminated by Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead. She was charged with a Class E felony for sexual activity by a person having custody of a victim in a governmental institution and released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.10Durham County Sheriff’s Office. Detention Sergeant Charged and Terminated Burnette was charged with the same felony, released on a $25,000 unsecured bond, and is no longer employed at the facility.11CBS 17. Two Durham Detention Center Employees Charged With Engaging in Sex Act With the Same Inmate
Under North Carolina law, a detainee cannot legally consent to sexual relations with someone who has custody over them. Meier has taken the position that Tyson is the victim in those cases, telling the court: “He was sexually assaulted by two employees who have now been charged with felonies. A detainee by law cannot consent. He is a victim in those cases.”9Law & Crime. Accused Murderer Who Calls Himself King Blood Allegedly Impregnated Jailer and Nurse
A third employee, former detention sergeant Nicole Locke, was charged separately for providing Tyson with an illegal cell phone, along with Chick-fil-A sandwiches and cell phone batteries. Locke admitted accepting a $500 bribe. The investigation into her began after officials recovered a cell phone belonging to Tyson that contained contact information leading them to her.12Corrections1. Ex-N.C. Jail Sergeant Gets Probation for Smuggling Chick-fil-A, Batteries to Inmate On January 6, 2026, Locke pleaded guilty to bribery of an official, a Class F felony, before Durham County Superior Court Judge Michael O’Foghludha. She was sentenced to 12 months of supervised probation under a negotiated plea deal, with a suspended prison sentence of 10 to 21 months if she violates its terms.13News & Observer. Nicole Locke Plea Deal and Sentencing
District Attorney Satana Deberry defended the agreement, saying it was supported by the evidence and Locke’s willingness to accept responsibility. Former Sheriff Mike Andrews criticized the sentence as “soft,” arguing it “sends the wrong message” to detention staff and that unmonitored phone access for inmates creates safety risks for jail employees and witnesses.13News & Observer. Nicole Locke Plea Deal and Sentencing Deberry also signaled the investigation was not over, telling reporters: “There is more to come.”14Corrections1. Gang Leader Accused of Impregnating 2 N.C. Jail Employees
Prior Criminal History
The Burton case is not Tyson’s first encounter with the criminal justice system. In December 2012, he was sentenced to up to 17 years in prison on multiple charges including second-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, stemming from incidents in 2010.5News & Observer. Darrius Tyson Charged in Disappearance of Shawn Burton The North Carolina Court of Appeals had previously vacated an earlier robbery conviction after finding the trial court violated Tyson’s rights by denying him a transcript of his first trial before immediately beginning a retrial.15Justia. State v. Tyson, Court of Appeals of North Carolina
In May 2020, Tyson’s 2012 convictions were vacated entirely through a consent order signed by Chief Resident Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson. According to Tyson’s defense attorney, the convictions were thrown out due to prosecutorial misconduct involving the failure to turn over exculpatory evidence. Tyson was released on a $250,000 unsecured bond, though the underlying charges remained pending at the time.5News & Observer. Darrius Tyson Charged in Disappearance of Shawn Burton Less than two years later, Burton disappeared.
Where Tyson Is Now
Following the jail scandal, Tyson was transferred from the Durham County Detention Center to Central Prison in Raleigh, where he is classified as a “safekeeper” and is ineligible for media interviews under prison policy.7WRAL. Blood Gang Leader Impregnates Durham Jail Workers He remains in custody on a $1.25 million bond awaiting trial on the murder, conspiracy, kidnapping, and burglary charges connected to Shawn Burton’s disappearance. Burton’s body has still not been found.