Overview

Date and Location of Homicide
Date: July 14, 2012
Location: Outside John’s residence on Harrington Road, Fairmont, Robeson County, North Carolina.
Main Circumstances
John Ross Kissam was fatally shot outside his home.
Investigators classified the case as a homicide.
No suspect has been publicly identified or charged.
The case remains an active cold case with law enforcement..

Detailed Case Breakdown

John Ross Kissam Case: What Happened, Timeline, Latest Investigation, and How to Submit Information
John Ross Kissam Homicide

The unsolved killing of John Ross Kissam remains one of Robeson County, North Carolina’s longstanding homicide investigations. More than a decade after his death, his family continues to seek justice while investigators have periodically renewed efforts to identify the person responsible.

John Ross Kissam was fatally shot outside his home in Fairmont, North Carolina, during 2012. Despite the initial investigation, no arrest has been announced, and the case remains open. Family members have repeatedly appealed to the public for information, believing someone knows what happened.

The case received renewed attention in 2019 when the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office established a dedicated cold case unit. Sheriff Burnis Wilkins stated that experienced investigators would revisit unsolved homicides and missing person cases using modern investigative techniques and fresh case reviews. John Ross Kissam’s case was specifically identified as one that would receive renewed investigative attention.

Investigation

Investigators have never publicly identified a suspect or announced a motive. Law enforcement has continued encouraging witnesses—or anyone who may have heard information after the crime—to come forward.

Cold case investigations often involve:

1. Re-examining physical evidence using newer forensic technology.
2. Re-interviewing original witnesses.
3. Following up on tips that may not have been fully investigated previously.
4. Reviewing digital and communications evidence unavailable or underutilized during the original investigation.

Authorities have emphasized that even seemingly minor details could help move the investigation forward.

Latest Investigation Information

As of the latest publicly available information, the homicide remains an active, unsolved investigation. No public announcement has been made regarding an arrest, charges, or the identification of a suspect.

The most significant publicly documented development remains the inclusion of John Ross Kissam’s case in the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit initiative, which was established to re-examine older unsolved homicides with fresh investigative resources. Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to contact investigators.

Family’s Pursuit of Justice

John Ross Kissam’s father, Hubert Kissam, has spoken publicly about his hope that renewed investigative efforts will finally bring justice for his son. His statements helped bring additional public attention to the case after the formation of the cold case unit.

Can This Case Still Be Solved?

Yes.

Many cold homicide investigations have been solved years—or even decades—after the original crime through:

1. New witness testimony.
2. Advances in forensic science.
3. DNA analysis where applicable.
4. Digital evidence review.
5. Anonymous tips from community members.

Investigators continue to ask anyone with information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, to contact law enforcement.

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Facebook Post:
John Ross Kissam was just 29-years-old when he was shot five times outside of his trailer on July 14, 2012, in Robeson County, NC. Since then there has been little progress made in the case according to the family as well as many missteps by law enforcement.

In an article written by the victim’s father, Hubert Kissam, he states that law enforcement did not keep proper chain-of-custody over evidence collected at John’s house, as well as a series of fumbles regarding other evidence and interviews.

In 2019, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins was sworn in and has aimed to light a fire under cold cases, including that of John Kissam’s.

The Kissam family would like to find out who did this to their son. He also left behind a young daughter.

If you or someone you know has any information regarding John’s case, please reach out to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office at 910-671-3100.

*Information regarding this case was gathered from an article in the Robesonian written by David Bradley and Donnie Douglas as well as a “To The Editor” article written by Hubert Kissam in the Robesonian.