ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County Crime Stoppers has been allocated $40,000 to help solve several missing persons cases — including one that has been active for more than a decade.
The Richmond County Board of Commissioners approved the funding at its meeting earlier this month.
“These folks have, unfortunately, been missing for a while,” Chairman Jeff Smart said to the rest of the board, referring to a list of missing men included in their agenda packets.
THE MISSING
Alvin Benson “Bent” Covington was last seen in late 2015 near the Food Lion store on U.S. 1. At the time of his disappearance, investigators with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office believed he could have been in the areas of Cartledge Creek Road, Northside Drive or the Philadelphia community.
Although he was 57, investigators said Covington had early onset dementia and had previously gone missing for 20 days in 2014 —eventually being found in Lee County — as this writer reported for the Richmond County Daily Journal in May 2016, following a search covering roughly 6.5 square miles.
Joseph Michael Blake, who had legally changed his name to Sol Vain Zivek, was 51 when he was last seen at his Ellerbe home in March 2019. His last known communication was a text message on March 29, 2019.
Investigators say Zivek had been very emotional following the death of his girlfriend earlier in the year.
The sheriff’s office led a search for Zivek on April 24 of that year.
Dennis Wayne Bailey was reported missing Jan. 2, 2025 — although he was last seen the previous week on Dec. 28 in the area of Mizpah Road southeast of Rockingham. As of March 19, 2025, there was a combined $5,200 reward offered for information leading to the location of Bailey.
Nicholas Drew Perkins was 36 when he was reported missing last summer. Perkins was reportedly last seen June 24 near Mill Road Pawn in East Rockingham.
Sheriff Mark Gulledge told commissioners that his request was for a $40,000 commitment to Crime Stoppers for rewards for information “leading to the recovery and the arrest of the individuals that are involved in these cases.”
While the sheriff’s office had not previously indicated any malicious involvement, Gulledge clarified to the RO in a Feb. 4 email that there “is a potential of foul play with some of these cases.”
Although Gulledge didn’t give any other details, Deborah Bailey Jackson, sister of Bailey, told the RO that the family has learned her brother was murdered.
“While I acknowledge that Dennis faced his own challenges, it is incredibly painful for our family to endure the uncertainty of his whereabouts and to know that he is not at rest,” Jackson said in a January letter. “We seek closure and the dignity of bringing him home.”
With it being a year since his disappearance, Jackson said, “...the unresolved nature of this case has taken a significant emotional toll on me and my family. We love Dennis dearly, and we wish to secure closure for him, as well as hold those responsible for his tragic death accountable.”
COMMISSIONERS DEBATE FUNDING
Gulledge had requested a budget amendment of $10,000 for each case, with a total of $40,000.
Commissioner Dr. Rick Watkins had several concerns.
Commissioner Dr. Rick Watkins expresses his concerns regarding an allocation to Richmond County Crime Stoppers.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
“Personally, I would be more inclined to provide a budget, if it needs to be increased, to the sheriff and let him use that on a case-by-case basis without having to come back to the commissioners,” Watkins said.
“Anyone that’s missing, that’s extremely important to their family,” Watkins continued. “But I’d rather let him (the sheriff) have some discretion and not set the precedent that we’re going to spend $10,000 in the future on every missing person.”
When questioned by Commissioner Justin Dawkins, Finance Director Cary Garner said there is a line item in the county budget for Richmond County Crime Stoppers, with $1,000 per year going toward the software for the P3 Tips app, but nothing for information.
Commissioner Jamie Gathings apologized to Gulledge that he “even had to come up here and ask for this.”
“We have spent probably a million dollars in the last year, not even trying to save a life,” Gathings said. “You should have whatever you want. I mean, hey, we spent $120,000 investigating me … As far as I’m concerned, you should get it with no problem, shouldn’t have to ask for it.”
Commissioner Andy Grooms suggested adding an additional $10,000 commissioner allotment to the cause.
Grooms said he understood Watkins’ concerns, “but, for the time being, let’s try to do whatever we can to get some of these folks home.”
Gulledge said investigators are still working the cases, “but I just need a little bit of extra help in hopefully moving the needle to closing these cases out.”
After the allocation was approved, Gathings suggested holding off on the $10,000 suggested by Grooms until the $40,000 has been expended.
Anyone with information on any of these cases is encouraged to contact Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454 or through the P3 Tips app.
