January 1 - December 31, 2017 (79 Homicides)
1. Date: January 4, 2017
Victim Name: Sorrell Jones, 25
Alleged Perpetrator: Andrew Davis, 24
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Henderson County: Vance
Weapon: Firearm
2. Date: January 12, 2017
Victim Name: Milton Ricardo Graham, 37
Alleged Perpetrator: Latisha Toloria Johnson, 31
Relationship: Girlfriend
Town: Charlotte County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Knife
3. Date: January 22, 2017
Victim Name: Angela Renee Winner, 37
Alleged Perpetrator: Joseph Koonce, 42
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Lumberton County: Robeson
Weapon: Firearm
4. Date: January 29, 2017
Victim Name: Mary Littrell, 66
Alleged Perpetrator: Wayne Littrell, 72
Relationship: Husband
Town: Waynesville County: Haywood
Weapon: Firearm
5. Date: January 30, 2017
Victim Name: Christine Davis, 46
Alleged Perpetrator: Christopher Wilson, 44
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town:Black Mountain County: Buncombe
Weapon: Firearm
6. Date: February 7, 2017
Victim Name: Taurus Ferguson, 36
Alleged Perpetrator: Argentinus Quaye, 37
Relationship: Girlfriend
Town: Winston-Salem County: Forsyth
Weapon: Knife
Note: Mr. Ferguson had a history of DV against Ms. Quaye who was *not* charged as Ms. Quaye killed Mr. Ferguson
in self-defense.This homicide is included because it is still the result of domestic violence, Mr. Ferguson’s domestic
violence.
7. Date: February 12, 2017
Victim Name: Latasha Devora Durham, 38
Alleged Perpetrator: Steve William Smith, 40
Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
Town: Ellerbe County: Richmond
Weapon: Firearm
8. Date: February 12, 2017
Victim Name: Gloria Jean Durham, 68
Alleged Perpetrator: Steve William Smith, 40
Relationship: None
Town: Ellerbe County: Richmond
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Smith killed Gloria Durham, the mother of Smith's ex-girlfriend, Latasha Durham, in the process of killing
Latasha Durham.
9. Date: February 12, 2017
Victim Name: Samuel Damon Durham, 42
Alleged Perpetrator: Steve William Smith, 40
Relationship: None
Town: Ellerbe County: Richmond
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Smith killed Samuel Durham, brother of Smith's ex-girlfriend, Latasha Durham, in the process of killing
Latasha Durham.
10. Date: March 8, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Connie Clark Merritt, 67
Alleged Perpetrator: Wilbur Ray Merritt, 71
Relationship: Husband
Town: Red Springs
County: Robeson
Weapon: Firearm
11. Date: March 7, 2017
Victim Name: Angela Smith Tramble, 45
Alleged Perpetrator: Jeffrey Dwayne Hoppes, 49
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Maiden
County: Catawba
Weapon: Firearm
12. Date: March 8, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Elisa Meryl Slutzky, 47
Alleged Perpetrator: Kenneth Dale Henson, 55
Relationship: Ex-boyfriend
Town: Huntersville
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Firearm
13. Date: March 12, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Shanice Williams, 26
Alleged Perpetrator: Marquis Lineberger, 27
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Long View
County: Catawba
Weapon: Firearm
14. Date: March 14, 2017
Victim Name: Shantell Denise Williams, 42
Alleged Perpetrator: Joseph Cornell Corbett III, 37
Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
Town: Wilmington
County: New Hanover
Weapon: Firearm
15. Date: March 17, 2017
Victim Name: Yesenia Elena McMillon, 27
Alleged Perpetrator: Corey Daniel Shirley, 30
Relationship: Ex-boyfriend
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Knife
16. Date: March 17, 2017
Victim Name: Deandre Terrell Olson, 25
Alleged Perpetrator: Corey Daniel Shirley, 30
Relationship: None
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Knife
Note: Mr. Olson was friends with Ms. Yesenia McMillon, Mr. Shirly’s Ex-Girlfriend and was present
at the time of the attack.
17. Date: March 18, 2017
Victim Name: Charlene Sade Alvarez, 27
Alleged Perpetrator: Sean Gibson, 28
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: High Point
County: Guilford
Weapon: Strangulation
18. Date: March 22, 2017
Victim Name: Terry Greenwood, 39
Alleged Perpetrator: Aaron Stephens, 42
Relationship: None
Town: Monkey Junction
County: New Hanover
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Media reports indicate that Mr. Stephens shot and killed Mr. Greenwood in an altercation over Mr. Stephen's
wife who had recently left him. NCCADV includes homicides that but for intimate partner violence/power & control,
the victim would still be alive.
19. Date: March 25, 2017
Victim Name: Genesis Freeman, newborn
Alleged Perpetrator: Tillman Freeman III, 30
Relationship: Father
Town: Raeford
County: Hoke County
Weapon: Knife
Note: Mr. Freeman killed his two children as a result of intimate partner violence, after accusing his
wife and mother of his children of cheating.
20. Date: March 25, 2017
Victim Name: Serenity Freeman, 2
Alleged Perpetrator: Tillman Freeman III, 30
Relationship: Father
Town: Raeford
County: Hoke County
Weapon: Knife
Note: Mr. Freeman killed his two children as a result of intimate partner violence, after accusing his
wife and mother of his children of cheating.
21. Date: March 29, 2017
Victim Name: Christopher Caskey, 35
Alleged Perpetrator: Josiah Russell Philpott, 34
Relationship: None
Town: Mount Holly
County: Gaston
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Mr. Caskey was the current live-in boyfriend of Mr. Philpott’s estranged wife who he had committed DV against.
Mr. Philpott killed Mr. Caskey as a result of DV during a custody exchange.
22. Date: April 3, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Eva Jo Jones, 60
Alleged Perpetrator: Jeffrey Harmon, 42
Relationship: Estranged Son-in-Law
Town: Tatums
County: Columbus
Weapon: Dismembered
23. Date: April 3, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Tiffany Cartwright, 35
Alleged Perpetrator: Jeffrey Harmon, 42
Relationship: Estranged Brother-in-Law
Town: Tatums
County: Columbus
Weapon: Dismembered
Note: The deaths of Ms. Jones and Ms. Cartwright are included as they are the result of domestic violence. Their
daughter/sister, Ms. Sara Harmon had just fled Mr. Harmon because he was abusive and they were killed by
Mr. Harmon when they went to retrieve Sara's belongings.
24. Date: April 5, 2017
Victim Name: Jennifer Renee Smith, 34
Alleged Perpetrator: Leroy Anthony Cooper, III, 41
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Unknown
25. Date: April 25, 2017
Victim Name: Brittany Ann Fullwood, 34
Alleged Perpetrator: William Patrick Bernicki, 49
Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
Town: Monkey Junction
County: New Hanover
Weapon: Firearm
26. Date: May 3, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Tiara Clark, 29
Alleged Perpetrator: Byron Howington, 31
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Firearm
27. Date: May 6, 2017
Victim Name: Kenneth Tankson, 40
Alleged Perpetrator: Whittney Tankson, 28
Relationship: Wife
Town: New Bern
County: Craven
Weapon: Knife
28. Date: May 12, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Kartrina Wright, 35
Alleged Perpetrator: Torrey Price, 31
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Durham
County: Durham
Weapon: Firearm
29. Date: May 13, 2017
Victim Name: Dean Ripa, 60
Alleged Perpetrator: Regina Ripa, 40
Relationship: Wife
Town: Wimington
County: New Hanover
Weapon: Firearm
30. Date: May 14, 2017
Victim Name: Jacqueline Winstead, 44
Alleged Perpetrator: James Williams, 63
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Walstonburg
County: Greene
Weapon: Firearm
31. Date: May 17, 2017
Victim Name: Horace Thomas Troublefield, 64
Alleged Perpetrator: Undisclosed
Relationship: Girlfriend
Town: Selma
County: Johnston
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Alleged perpetrator may have been acting in self-defense as there does not appear to be any record of
charges from this incident.
32. Date: June 2, 2017
Victim Name: Michelle Joyner, 36
Alleged Perpetrator: Michael Allen Joyner, 38
Relationship: Husband
Town: Wilson
County: Wilson
Weapon: Ax
33. Date: June 2, 2017
Victim Name: Dennis Ray Joyner, 63
Alleged Perpetrator: Michael Allen Joyner, 38
Relationship: Son
Town: Wilson
County: Wilson
Weapon: Ax
34. Date: June 3, 2017
Victim Name: Archie McGill, 47
Alleged Perpetrator: Gary James McGill, 51
Relationship: Husband
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Fire
Note: Ms. McGill died June 3rd of injuries sustained after her husband poured rubbing alcohol on her and set her on
fire on May 21st.
35. Date: June 6, 2017
Victim Name: Vickie Bradshaw Allen, 45
Alleged Perpetrator: Andrew Jackson Allen, Jr. 48
Relationship: Estranged husband
Town: High Point
County: Guilford
Weapon: Knife
36. Date: June 6, 2017
Victim Name: Andrea Mae Allen, 21
Alleged Perpetrator: Andrew Jackson Allen, Jr., 48
Relationship: Father
Town: High Point
County: Guilford
Weapon: Knife
Note: Ms. Andrea Mae Allen was allegedly murdered by her father during an incident in which he also killed his
estranged wife, Ms. Allen's mother, Vickie Bradshaw Allen.
37. Date: June 13, 2017
Victim Name: Caleb Adams, 38
Alleged Perpetrator: Wendy Dawn Hicks, 38
Relationship: Ex-Girlfriend
Town: Randleman
County: Randolph
Weapon: Firearm
38. Date: June 18, 2017
Victim Name: Shalice Sutton, 31
Alleged Perpetrator: Matthew Laurence White, 39
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Fayetteville
County: Cumberland
Weapon: Firearm
39. Date: June 30, 2017
Victim Name: Ashley Ann Bell, 34
Alleged Perpetrator: Mark Aiena, 37
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Wilmington
County: New Hanover
Weapon: Blunt force trauma
40. Date: July 1, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Ami Fletcher, 33
Alleged Perpetrator: Jeremy Wayne Fletcher, 34
Relationship: Estranged Husband
Town: Ellendale
County: Aleander
Weapon: Firearm (Suicide by hanging)
41. Date: July 7, 2017
Victim Name: Heidi May Morton, 35
Alleged Perpetrator: Alton Ulysses Morton, Jr., 35
Relationship: Husband
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Bludgeoned with blunt object
42. Date: July 12, 2017
Victim Name: Trista A. Wilson, 33
Alleged Perpetrator: Eric Dashaun Dawkins, 23
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: High Point
County: Guilford
Weapon: Knife
43. Date: July 12, 2017
Victim Name: Heather Carter, 28
Alleged Perpetrator: Jimmy Lee Proffitt, II, 28
Relationship: Ex-Husband
Town: Fayetteville
County: Cumberland
Weapon: Firearm
44. Date: July 16, 2017
Victim Name: Deric Fernandza Shaw, 49
Alleged Perpetrator: Lakesha Nicole Johnson, 40
Relationship: Girlfriend
Town: Garner
County: Wake
Weapon: Knife
45. Date: July 16, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Naoko Kaup, 84
Alleged Perpetrator: Milton Kaup, 74
Relationship: Husband
Town: Jacksonville
County: Onslow
Weapon: Firearm
46. Date: July 18, 2017
Victim Name: Tasaria Tasia Glover, 27
Alleged Perpetrator: Theodore Maurice Parker, 44
Relationship: Husband
Town: Greensboro
County: Guilford
Weapon: Strangulation
47. Date: July 19, 2017
Victim Name: Freddie Garnell Speaks, 60
Alleged Perpetrator: Bren Dobson Speaks, 59
Relationship: Wife
Town: Yadkinville
County: Yadkin
Weapon: Firearm
48. Date: July 23, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Karla Ayde-Garcia Arellano, 23
Alleged Perpetrator: Javier Garcia Aguilar, 35
Relationship: Estranged Husband
Town: Goldsboro
County: Wayne
Weapon: Firearm
49. Date: July 25, 2017
Victim Name: Jacqueline Gordon-White, 65
Alleged Perpetrator: Vurnel Smith Jr., 40
Relationship: Estranged son-in-law
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Firearm
Note: The death of Ms. Gordon-White is included as it is the result of domestic violence. Her daughter, Keydra Smith filed a DVPO against Mr. Smith, Jr. two weeks prior. Mr. Smith Jr. killed Ms. Gordon-White during an incident in which he injured his estranged wife, Ms. Keydra Smith.
50. Date: July 25, 2017
Victim Name: Rufus Gordon, 69
Alleged Perpetrator: Vurnel Smith Jr., 40
Relationship: Estranged son-in-law
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Firearm
Note: The death of Mr. Gordon is included as it is the result of domestic violence. His daughter, Keydra Smith
filed a DVPO against Mr. Smith, Jr. two weeks prior. Mr. Smith, Jr. killed Mr. Gordon during an incident in which he
injured his estranged wife, Ms. Keydra Smith.
51. Date: July 29, 2017
Victim Name: Diamond Zmaria Starr-Reynolds, 29
Alleged Perpetrator: Johannes Woodard, 25
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Dunn
County: Harnett
Weapon: Firearm
52. Date: August 12, 2017
Victim Name: Jennifer Ann Arrington, 44
Alleged Perpetrator: Andrew Eugene Meeks, 41
Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
Town: Raleigh
County: Wake
Weapon: Unknown
53. Date: August 20, 2017
Victim Name: Israel Oluwasegva, 5
Alleged Perpetrator: Ebony Oluwasegva, 34
Relationship: Mother
Town: Chapel Hill
County: Orange
Weapon: Knife
Note: The child was allegedly killed by Ms. Oluwasegva during an incident in which she repeatedly stabbed her
husband, Victor Olowu. The child is included in this count because he was killed during a domestic violence incident.
54. Date: August 21, 2017
Victim Name: Shaekeya Danielle Gay, 23
Alleged Perpetrator: Marcus Tyrell Hargrove, 23
Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
Town: Henderson
County: Vance
Weapon: Firearm
55. Date: August 24, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Trudy Rosser, 44
Alleged Perpetrator: Toby Rosser, 40
Relationship: Husband
Town: Whitakers
County: Nash
Weapon: Firearm
56. Date: August 24, 2017
Victim Name: Allana Mozelle, 32
Alleged Perpetrator: Teamus Maurice Mozelle, 35
Relationship: Husband
Town: Cameron
County: Harnett
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Ms. Mozelle died on August 24 of injuries sustained August 20.
57. Date: September 1, 2017
Victim Name: Lauren Ashley-Nicole Phelps, 29
Alleged Perpetrator: Matthew James Phelps, 28
Relationship: Husband
Town: Raleigh
County: Wake
Weapon: Knife
58. Date: September 1, 2017
Victim Name: Jeannine Shante Skinner, 35
Alleged Perpetrator: Donny Lewis Franklin, 45
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Unknown
59. Date: September 8, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Glorimar Vega, 36
Alleged Perpetrator: Rafael Santiago, 39
Relationship: Estranged Husband
Town: Fayetteville
County: Cumberland
Weapon: Firearm
60. Date: September 11, 2017
Victim Name: Florinez Torres Lopez, 36
Alleged Perpetrator: Fletcher Odell Johnson Jr., 52
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Fayetteville
County: Cumberland
Weapon: Knife
61. Date: September 13, 2017
Victim Name: Marvin Orlando Frazier, 55
Alleged Perpetrator: Stephanie Frazier, 45
Relationship: Wife
Town: Havelock
County: Craven
Weapon: Firearm
62. Date: September 30, 2017
Victim Name: Briana Shintel Greene, 18
Alleged Perpetrator: Sherrod Anthony Ford, 22
Relationship: Ex-boyfriend
Town: Lillington
County: Harnett
Weapon: Knife
63. Date: October 7, 2017
Victim Name: Devan Skylar Upchurch, 17
Alleged Perpetrator: Chad Delano Rose, 34
Relationship: None
Town: Mount Airy
County: Surry
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Devan died of injuries sustained on September 28, 2017, when Mr. Rose,
his mother’s boyfriend, shot him and his mother. His mother survived her injuries.
64. Date: October 19, 2017
Victim Name: Natalie Merrick, 23
Alleged Perpetrator: Mahmood Bhatti, 28
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Strangulation
Note: Ms. Merrick was pregnant at the time of her death
65. Date: October 21, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Nancy Hutchens, 68
Alleged Perpetrator: Dennis Hutchens, 68
Relationship: Husband
Town: Elkin
County: Surry Weapon: Firearm
66. Date: October 24, 2017
Victim Name: Sharon Nicklow, 52
Alleged Perpetrator: James “Butch” Buttke, Jr., 56
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Burnsville
County: Yancey
Weapon: Firearm
67. Date: November 11, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Teresa Neal, 56
Alleged Perpetrator: Ronald Neal, 60
Relationship: Husband
Town: Clemmons
County: Davidson
Weapon: Firearm
68. Date: November 22, 2017
Victim Name: Deborah Kay Terry, 55
Alleged Perpetrator: Donnie Davie Terry, 53
Relationship: Husband
Town: Pinnacle
County: Stokes
Weapon: Firearm
69. Date: November 22, 2017
Victim Name: Lena Jackson, 75
Alleged Perpetrator: Robert Jackson, 81
Relationship: Husband
Town: Linden
County: Cumberland
Weapon: Firearm
70. Date: November 24, 2017
Victim Name: Nadia Maher, 38
Alleged Perpetrator: Michael Anthony Maher, 44
Relationship: Husband
Town: Apex
County: Wake
Weapon: Firearm
71. Date: November 2017
Victim Name: Karen Denise Jenkins, 47
Alleged Perpetrator: Jeremy Lynn Bradshaw
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Columbus
County: Polk
Weapon: Strangulation
Note: The exact date of Ms. Jenkin’s death is unknown. Her body was recovered from a well in March 2018.
72. Date: December 9, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Marina Bravo Aguilar, 37
Alleged Perpetrator: Antioco Andrade Chacon, 37
Relationship: Husband
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Firearm
73. Date: December 9, 2017
Victim Name: Asuncion Chacon-Perez, 61
Alleged Perpetrator: Antioco Andrade Chacon, 37
Relationship: Son
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg Weapon: Firearm
Note: Ms. Chacon-Perez was allegedly killed by Antioco Andrade Chacon during an incident in which he also shot
his wife, Marina Bravo Aguilar. Ms. Chacon-Perez is included in this count because she was killed during a
domestic violence incident.
74. Date: December 9, 2017
Victim Name: Harry Max McLaughlin, 44
Alleged Perpetrator: Roshedia Keisan Bruner, 34
Relationship: Ex-girlfriend
Town: Statesville
County: Iredell
Weapon: Knife
75. Date: December 11, 2017
Victim Name: Harold Levette Hoover, 86
Alleged Perpetrator: Rochelle Scarlett Hoover, 77
Relationship: Wife
Town: Trinity
County: Randolph
Weapon: Firearm
Note: This was an alleged attempted murder-suicide but Mrs. Hoover survived her injuries.
76. Date: December 13, 2017 Murder-Suicide Victim Name: Nina Christina Martin, 36
Alleged Perpetrator: James Mark Ferguson, 56
Relationship: Boyfriend
Town: Fines Creek
County: Haywood
Weapon: Firearm
77. Date: December 15, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: John Derrick Wright, 51
Alleged Perpetrator: Jason Maurice Griffith, 51
Relationship: Unknown
Town: Raleigh
County: Wake
Weapon: Firearm
Note: Mr. Wright’s death is included because he was killed during the same incident in which
Mr. Griffith allegedly shot his wife Emma Griffith. Mrs. Griffith survived her injuries.
78. Date: December 15, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Not yet released
Alleged Perpetrator: Not yet released
Relationship: Romantic partners (more info forthcoming after family notification)
Town: Indian Trail
County: Union
Weapon: Firearm
79. Date: December 22, 2017 Murder-Suicide
Victim Name: Suprena Mercelle Hunter, 50
Alleged Perpetrator: Maurice Dermot Hunter, 51
Relationship: Husband
Town: Charlotte
County: Mecklenburg
Weapon: Firearm
80. Date: December 30, 2017
Victim Name: Jimmy Whitford, 51
Alleged Perpetrator: Sharon Whitford,
Relationship: Wife
Town: New Bern
County: Craven
Weapon: Firearm
Domestic violence is prevalent and lethal. 80 victims lost their lives this year due to perpetrators of domestic violence. The loss is not just of their lives but the impact on their children, families, friends, and communities. In addition, NCCADV recognizes that many of the perpetrators of these domestic violence homicides also lost their lives to suicide or homicide, another cost of domestic violence. In total, 98 lives were lost due to the violent and lethal consequences of domestic violence; 79 victims and an additional 19 perpetrators. NCCADV continues to work each year to prevent domestic violence homicides through collaborations, innovative trainings, prevention, technical assistance, state policy development and legal advocacy.