LAURINBURG — A Richmond County woman is one of two charged in a Scotland County death by distribution case.
The Scotland County Sheriff’s Office has charged 30-year-old Laura Gail Cox of Rockingham and 27-year-old Allison Davis of Cheraw, South Carolina, in the May 19, 2024 death of Pamela Burns.
(NOTE: Other news outlets have reported Davis as being from Cheraw, however the arrest warrant lists an address in the Hamlet area of Richmond County.)
The two are accused of giving the reported victim fentanyl.
Each is charged with one felony count each of death by distribution through unlawful delivery of certain controlled substances and conspiracy.
Court records show arrest warrants were issued Dec. 1; Cox was arrested the same day and Davis was arrested Dec. 2.
According to records, Cox is being held on a $1,500,000 secured bond and Davis was given a $1 million secured bond.
Cox and Davis had their first court appearances on Dec. 3 and their next appearances are scheduled for Dec. 18.
Court records show a motion to continue was issued Dec. 16 by the assistant district attorney to continue Davis' case until after the grand jury convenes next on Jan. 16, 2026.
Cox has pending charges in Richmond County connected to an ongoing fraud investigation involving the financial account of a man who passed away nearly two years ago.
Records show Cox was charged with misdemeanor larceny in September for allegedly stealing a cellphone. She also has pending charges in Montgomery County
Cox’s pending charges are:
Richmond - uttering a forged endorsement; forgery of instrument (2 counts); obtaining property by false pretenses; forgery; trafficking stolen identities; resisting a public officer; possession of drug paraphernalia
Montgomery - identity theft; resisting a public officer; possession of drug paraphernalia; and aiding and abetting driving while license revoked.
Cox was convicted in 2020 on two counts of misdemeanor breaking and entering, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to move to the far lane, according to records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.
Court records show Cox was also convicted of second-degree trespassing in Moore County earlier this year.
Davis was convicted in 2023 on two counts of misdemeanor larceny in Scotland County. She appears to have no prior or pending cases in Chesterfield or Marlboro counties in South Carolina.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
