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Authorities report progress but nothing to disclose publicly in their continuing investigation into the murder of a Manteo waitress ten days ago.

The slashed body of Stacey Stanton, a New Jersey native, was found in a pool of blood in her apartment February 3 after she failed to report for work.

Rumors immediately began to fly and a New Jersey man who apparently knew the attractive blonde victim, and who was being held in Tyrrell County on drug charges, was questioned by

week’s end, however, the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office said the man was being detained only for New Jersey authorities.

Investigators have repeatedly responded to queries by saying they can’t afford to harm the probe by a premature public release of information.

From other sources, however, it appears that investigators believe the information they seek concerning Miss Stanton’s murder is to be found locally and not in some other jurisdiction. It is

understandable in a situation such as this, these sources suggest, that someone possessing potentially valuable information would he reluctant to step forward. All the more reason, it is

pointed out, that investigators decline to release information that might inhibit an informant or divulge facts by which they could measure new local leads.

On the night of her slaying, Stacey Stanton had dinner at a Manteo bar and restaurant under circumstances that were not routine. While at the restaurant, she encountered a former

boyfriend with whom she reportedly hoped to re-establish a relationship. Witnesses heard words exchanged between Miss Stanton and her former boyfriend. They also saw a new

girlfriend step between Stanton and her former boyfriend.

The scene, though perhaps insignificant, was one example of why investigators

believe that potentially valuable informants have yet to emerge.

Miss Stanton left the downtown Manteo establishment alone that night.

While Stacey Stanton’s slaying has been described as brutal, at least one person who viewed the body saw the fatal stab wounds as evidence of revenge rather than a sexual assault.

As in all such cases, conjecture and theory abound. Local authorities have received numerous unsolicited leads and, they suspect, dead ends. But every avenue is being explored, and without tipping the hand that they hold close, authorities give the impression that the slaying of Stacey Stanton is a crime that will be solved.

To see the scans of the archived newspaper page where this article appeared, click here.

READ MORE ARTICLES RELATED TO THE STANTON CASE HERE.