DETAILS IN THE ALLEGATIONS

Posted: Aug 13, 2007
Updated: Apr 3, 2009

CRAVEN COUNTY — CRAVEN COUNTY: Investigators believe that Best was living across the street from his victim’s cousin’s house or he may have been visiting a friend, but while Best was hanging around outside the house, he overheard the victim and her cousin fighting about giving the victim a ride to a place she needed to go. Best allegedly walked over, told the two there was no need to fight and offered to give the victim a ride.

While in the car, the victim says Best purposefully took a wrong turn. When the victim tried to tell him how to get to where she needed to go, he refused to listen. That’s when he pulled the car over, threatened to kill her if she said anything to anyone about this and then raped her. A short time later, he dropped her off at a friend’s house.

The victim immediately told the friend what happened and her friend called 911. At that point, an officer heard the call over the scanner and decided to wait on the side of the highway, hoping that Best would drive by. The officer did see Best’s car and followed him. But when Best realized he was being followed, he jumped out of his car while it was moving, disappeared into the woods and hasn’t been seen since.

Robert Lee Best had just gotten out of jail about two months prior to this crime. He is a habitual sex offender and never re-registered once out of prison.

If you have information on this case, call NC WANTED toll free at 1.866.43.WANTED or click on "Report a Tip" Your information will be kept confidential.

Wanted For:
Rape
2nd degree kidnapping
Escape from custody

Profile:
Sex: Male
Race: Black
Age Now: 45
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 145 lbs.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown

Possible Locations:
Best has family living in various parts of Craven County. He’s also been traced to the Little Washington, NC area.