Sheriff: Four-Year-Old Girl Tortured, Dies At UNC Hospitals

SMITHFIELD—A 21-year-old man is being held without bond after authorities say he tortured a 4-year-old girl he was supervising. Four-year-old Teghan Alyssa Skiba died Monday as a result of injuries she sustained.

Jonathan Douglas Richardson, 21 of Old Sanders Road, Smithfield reportedly carried the girl to Johnston Medical Center on Friday, July 16^th. The girl was found to have severe head trauma and had many cuts, bruises and bites upon her body. According to Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell, there was also evidence of sexual abuse. She was airlifted to UNC Hospitals where she died on Monday, July 19^th.

Richardson was keeping the child while her mother was taking part in military training out of state. Before the child’s mother left for the training exercises, the three had been living in a barn on the property of Richard’s grandparents with no bathroom (in the barn) and only one air mattress for them to sleep on.

According to arrest warrants, Richardson had first claimed the child had bumped her head after falling from a bed, but later told a detective that he had become irate after the girl soiled the air mattress the two were sharing.  Richardson also claimed that he suffered from a bipolar disorder.

Authorities have confiscated numerous items as evidence in the case from the barn where Richardson and Teghan were staying. Those items are said to include the air mattress, guns & knives, a condom wrapper, strips of duct tape, camera, guitar string, electrical drop cord, drug paraphernalia, etc. They have also seized a pickup truck and the house in which Richardson’s grandparents were living.

Richardson has prior misdemeanor convictions of communicating threats, driving while intoxicated, damage to real property and assault. Richardson is now charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse.

Sheriff Bizzell has stated that the investigation is ongoing and that others may be charged in the case.

Teen Indicted On Second-Degree Murder Charges In Wal-Mart Crash

DUNN—The charge will be second-degree murder against the 18-year-old driver in a bizarre crash that occurred outside the Dunn Wal-Mart in June.  Investigators have concluded that Dillon Tart sped through a Wal-Mart parking lot and rolled his SUV over several times.

As a result of the crash, 16-year-old Ashley Moore was fatally injured, two vehicles were clipped and the front wall of the Wal-Mart store was damaged. Moore was critically injured in the crash. After being extricated from the wreckage, she was airlifted to WakeMed hospital in Raleigh, but died a short time later. Tart suffered non-life threatening injuries.

According to witness accounts, the two were arguing at the Murphy USA gas station, which is located on US Highway 421. Tart, who was driving, suddenly accelerated out of the gas station parking lot at a high-rate of speed, driving directly toward the Wal-Mart store that is located several hundred yards off the highway.  As Tart approached the store, he clipped two parked cars, causing him to lose control of his SUV and roll over several times. The vehicle came to rest against the front wall of the store.

Dunn Police state that the surveillance cameras atop the Wal-Mart store confirm witness accounts that the SUV was traveling at an extraordinary amount of speed.

Rising Number of Scams In One Eastern NC County

GOLDSBORO—The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a number of scams, in which the suspects attempt to convince citizens that they have won prize money or have been left an inheritance.

According to a press release from Wayne County Sheriff C.A. Winders, his office has been investigating one such incident where a victim has lost over $100,000 and is still adamant about sending more money in hopes of collecting from the apparent string-along scam.

“Everyone should keep in mind that you cannot win a contest, lottery or sweepstakes if you don’t enter it and in these situations no one has entered a contest and you will not have some long lost relative die and leave you a great inheritance that the administrator contacts you through email,” Winders states.

Some of these purported winnings require their victims to pay processing fees, taxes or administrative fees prior to receiving their money. Residents who fall for the scams send in the required fees and never receive their alleged winnings.  Many of these scammers also continually change their routine to stay ahead of both their victims and law enforcement.  While some scammers do not send anything to their victims, others forward counterfeit checks that can cost the victims even more money if cashed. Victims who are able to cash these phony checks become responsible for reimbursing the funds to the bank or business that cashes them.

Sheriff Winders encourages area citizens to be wary of such scams and realize that the old cliché of ‘if it seems to good to be true, it usually is’ is almost always correct. “These con men and women are very good at what they are doing. The people that have been victims in these frauds are often professional and educated people such as Doctors, Lawyers and Engineers, so do not think that everyone cannot be a target.”

Wayne County citizens who feel they have been the victims of such crimes can contact the Sheriff Offices’ Investigations-Detective Division at (919) 731-1480. Other citizens can contact the North Carolina Department of Justice toll-free at 1-800-5-NO-SCAM.

Kidnapper Allegedly Burns Woman, Shaves Her Head

PIKEVILLE—Authorities say that a Pikeville man kidnapped a woman, locked her in a closet with her hands and feet bound for days. Investigators with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office say that Earl Deans, Jr., 34, is charged with second degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

Deputies received a call on Wednesday, July 14 to respond to an injured woman just outside the northern Wayne County town. Upon arrival, they discovered that the injured woman had fled the residence in which she had been being held captive.  The woman had facial burns, burn on other parts of her body and her head had been shaven by the suspect.

According to reports, Deans would lock the woman in the closet when he would leave his home. She managed to escape while he was gone. Authorities say that the two had lived together in the past.

 Deans is being held on a $90,000 secured bond.

Medical Supplies Company Confirms New Distribution Center

FOUR OAKS—Company officials with Becton Dickinson have confirmed their decision to build a new $38.4 million warehouse and distribution center near the town of Four Oaks in Johnston County.

Contrary to earlier reports, the facility will generate more jobs than previously expected with 187 new positions being created beginning in 2012. The state will provide a $600,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund as part of the incentive package. The grant is contingent upon a matching local grant.

“BD’s presence is another example of why North Carolina has been consistently ranked among the nation’s top states in biotechnology and life sciences,” said Gov. Perdue.  “Working in partnership with top quality companies such as this, I will continue to focus on creating good jobs for North Carolina’s workers.”

BD is a global medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. It focuses on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines.

Salaries for the new jobs will vary by job function, but the overall annual average wage for the new jobs will be $28,771 plus benefits.  That is slightly below the Johnston County average annual wage of $31,408.

“We are very pleased to be expanding in North Carolina, where BD now employs approximately 900 associates and has had a presence since 1972,” said Stephen Sichak, BD senior vice president, integrated supply chain. “Establishing our new distribution center in Johnston County will enable BD to reduce cycle times and enhance the operational effectiveness of our entire supply chain. Additional benefits include the skilled workforce, transportation infrastructure and supportive government officials in the region.”

Headquartered in New Jersey, BD currently operates facilities in more than 50 countries around the world, including five facilities in North Carolina.

Police: Woman Threatened With Gun For Wal-Mart Parking Space

SMITHFIELD—A 29-year-old woman told Smithfield Police that she was threatened for not surrendering her parking space at the Wal-Mart located on North Bright Leaf Boulevard.

The woman told officers that as she stood near her vehicle talking to friends, an unknown woman drove up and asked her for her parking space. When she informed the woman that she would not be leaving immediately, the woman cursed, revealed a gun and threatened to shoot her.

The investigation is ongoing with officers following up on several leads. If anyone witnessed the incident, call Smithfield Police at 919-934-2121.

Harnett Woman Charged With Bank Fraud

LILLINGTON—Federal investigators have charged a Harnett County woman after allegations that she altered bank documents in an attempt to redirect home equity funds to herself.

As reported by The Fayetteville Observer, a bill of criminal information has been filed against Ferguson, which is an alternative means of charging someone of such a crime other than a typical grand jury indictment.

The document indicated that Ferguson had worked at SunTrust Bank in Coats for over three years: July 2003 through August 2006.  The allegations made by investigators are that Ferguson, while employed as a loan officer with the bank, would accept funds from customers to close home equity lines. Instead of closing the account, investigators contend that she would redirect statements to her post office box.

The charges in which Ferguson must answer could be punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a potential fine of $1 million.  

Beer-Cigarette Thief Strikes Again

CLAYTON—In recent weeks, apparently the same suspect has been responsible for numerous break-ins throughout town at various businesses that sell beer or cigarettes. The most recent incident took place at the CVS Pharmacy at the corner of US Highway 70 Business and Shotwell Road.

At approximately 5:30 a.m., the intruder used a concrete block to break a window and gain access to the store while it was closed. While inside, the suspect jumped over the check-out counter and stole a carton of cigarettes.

The suspect is described as a black male wearing a white tee shirt, black shorts and white socks on his hands. His shoes are described as black in color with red accents on the bottom.

Just over two weeks ago, a suspect generally matching the same description forced his way into the Spirit gas station on NC Highway 42 in Clayton.

Authorities Find Body Buried In Field

LILLINGTON—Harnett County authorities are investigating a case of murder after locating a body late Monday evening.

The investigation began on Friday, July 16 when several witnesses reported a suspicious individual near Black Lane west of Lillington.  Several people reported a man asking passing motorists for a ride. Accounts were that the man mentioned that his friend had been shot on Tim Currin Road, but deputies with the Harnett County Sheriff’s office could not locate anyone injured at the location.

Investigators looked deeper into the case over the weekend and located the suspicious man’s residence that had made the claim to drivers in the area. By Monday, investigators with the Sheriff’s Office questioned the man about the alleged shooting of his friend. The man then confessed to shooting someone and burying the body in a field near his home.

Authorities went to the field and recovered a body at approximately 10 p.m. Monday evening. An autopsy has been ordered for positive identification and for the cause of death at the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office in Chapel Hill.

The man charged is 42-year-old David Eugene Gates of J.M. Wallace Lane in Lillington. He has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Harnett County Detention Center.

Former Principal Pleads Guilty

KINSTON—A former principal of a Lenoir County private school has taken a plea deal to avoid a trial.

Michael Fulcher, 39, chose to plead guilty on Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female. Part of the plea gives him a 60-day suspended sentence and 12 months of probation. While Fulcher will not have to register as a sex offender, he is not allowed to seek any career in education.

Fulcher was principal of the Bethel Christian Academy in Kinston prior to allegations that he had a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student.  It is against the law in North Carolina for a teacher or school administrator to engage in sexual relations with any student.

Hospital To Expand Cancer Treatment Care

RALEIGH—Rex Healthcare will proceed with plans on building a $60 million dollar cancer center after gaining approval from state regulators.

The new cancer hospital, which will be built in front of the existing cancer center at Rex’s main campus on Lake Boone Trail, will feature the latest innovations in cancer treatment. The facility will also greatly benefit from its affiliation with UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Rex Healthcare will renovate the existing cancer center and construct an additional 71,542 square feet. In total, the new cancer hospital will feature over 93,000 square feet.  Rex Hospital’s new cancer center will open in 2014.