Jury finds Cumberland County man guilty of murder in death of missing woman

A Fayetteville man was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday in the death of a missing woman whose body was found in the waters of Gray's Creek in December 2021.

Following 11 days of testimony, a Cumberland County jury convicted Javeeno Resimo, 21, of killing Jessi Marie Lindsley, 38. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole and has filed a notice of appeal, according to court records.

According to a search warrant, 10 days after Linsley was reported missing, Cumberland County deputies found her body on a large tarp caught on a creek channel near Butler Nursey and Blossom roads on Dec. 17, 2021. The autopsy said she suffered gunshot wounds to the head, torso and hand.

A day after the body was found, detectives received information that the then-18-year-old Resimo was reportedly attempting to flee the state and he was arrested, court records state. The last outgoing call from Lindsley's phone was to Resimo on Nov. 11, 2021, the records state. The warrant states she was killed sometime between Nov. 10, 2021, and Dec. 17, 2021, and her vehicle was stolen.

During an interview with police, Resimo reportedly said Lindsley had been killed at his home in the 6800 block of Jacamp Drive. She also lived at the address, according to reports.

The record also notes that a woman came forward and told investigators that after the killing, Resimo showed her a cellphone picture of Lindsley's body.

Resimo's co-defendant, Michael Lee Witt, 32, pleaded guilty April 17 to concealment of death after the fact. In exchange for the plea, a charge of accessory was dismissed and Witt was required to testify against Resimo at trial.