January 1 – December 31, 2015 (73 Murders)

  1. Date: January 1, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Vanessa Perry Williams, 31
    Alleged Perpetrator: Damien Lamer Williams, 24
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Greenville    County: Pitt
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Mr. Williams killed himself on January 5, 2015, during a stand-off with police in Charlotte, NC
  2. Date: January 5, 2015
    Victim Name: Victor Mitchell, 70
    Alleged Perpetrator: Debra Soles Strickland, 58
    Relationship: Girlfriend
    Town: Cerro Gordo     County: Columbus
    Weapon: Firearm
  3. Date: January 20, 2015
    Victim Name: Robert Swedlund, 25
    Alleged Perpetrator: Jeffrey Gillespie, 33
    Relationship: None
    Town: Troutman     County: Iredell
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Robert was the current boyfriend of Mr. Gillespie’s estranged wife.
  4. *Date: February 4, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Amanda Tarpley, 34
    Alleged Perpetrator: Coleton Tarpley, 35
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: King     County: Stokes
    Weapon: Firearm
  5. *Date: February 4, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Coleton Tarpley, Jr., 9
    Alleged Perpetrator: Coleton Tarpley, 35
    Relationship: Father
    Town: King     County: Stokes
    Weapon: Firearm
  6. *Date: February 4, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Charlie Tarpley, 6
    Alleged Perpetrator: Coleton Tarpley, 35
    Relationship: Father
    Town: King     County: Stokes
    Weapon: Firearm
  7. Date: February 5, 2015
    Victim Name: Bridgette Berry, 38
    Alleged Perpetrator: Peter James Rivers, 40
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Mount Holly      County: Gaston
    Weapon: unknown
  8. Date: February 5, 2015
    Victim Name: Treyvon Berry, 17
    Alleged Perpetrator: Peter James Rivers, 40
    Relationship: Boyfriend of Victim\\\’s Mother
    Town: Mount Holly      County: Gaston
    Weapon: unknown
  9. *Date February 15, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Kimberly Allen, 40
    Alleged Perpetrator: Steven Allen, 47
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: China Grove      County: Rowan
    Weapon: Firearm
  10. Date: February 17, 2015
    Victim Name: Anthony Martin, 57
    Alleged Perpetrator: Cathy Martin, 56
    Relationship: Wife
    Town: Durham      County: Durham
    Weapon: Knife
  11. *Date: February 20, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Eileen Yinfenlai Benedetti, 57
    Alleged Perpetrator: Michael Wayne Benedetti, 46
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Garner      County: Wake
    Weapon: unknown
  12. Date: March 8, 2015
    Victim Name: Amber Nicole Matheson, 24
    Alleged Perpetrator: Ray Edward Matheson, 23
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Charlotte     County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Unknown
  13. Date: March 13, 2015
    Victim Name: Thomas Lee England, 27
    Alleged Perpetrator: Atalia England, 24
    Relationship: Wife
    Town: Oxford     County: Granville
    Weapon: Firearm
  14. Date: March 15, 2015
    Victim Name: Jennifer Lilly
    Alleged Perpetrator: Shelton Van Lilly, 38
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Vanceboro      County: Craven
    Weapon: Firearm
  15. Date: March 23, 2015
    Victim Name: Sean Fitzsimmons Guess, 37
    Alleged Perpetrator: Name not released
    Relationship: Girlfriend
    Town: Raleigh      County: Wake
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Mr. Guess was killed while assaulting his girlfriend, whose name was not released. A 911 phone call made by his girlfriend indicates that Mr. Guess was attempting to kidnap her by gunpoint. She reported to 911 that he hit her repeatedly with one gun and pulled out another, and during this struggle the gun went off. No charges were filed. NCCADV includes this homicide because but for domestic violence (the domestic violence Mr. Guess was perpetrating) he would still be alive.  
  16. Date: March 27, 2015
    Victim Name: Tierra Hall, 17
    Alleged Perpetrator: Kelton Breshon Fox, 17
    Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
    Town: Durham      County: Durham
    Weapon: Knife
  17. Date: March 29, 2015
    Victim Name: William Michael Auzins, 20
    Alleged Perpetrator: Liana Marie Aman, 28
    Relationship: Girlfriend
    Town: Greensboro
    County: Guilford
    Weapon: Vehicle
  18. Date: April 5, 2015
    Victim Name: Ruby Scott Bullins, 58
    Alleged Perpetrator: James Allen Bullins, 37
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Carthage      County: Moore
    Weapon: unknown
  19. *Date: April 5, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Alisa Mackey, 29
    Alleged Perpetrator: Cameron Phillips, 27
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Charlotte      County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Firearm
  20. Date: April 12, 2015
    Victim Name: Wanda Lee Dethlefsen, 33
    Alleged Perpetrator: Roderick Reco Wyche, 20
    Relationship: Ex-boyfriend
    Town: La Grange      County: Lenoir
    Weapon: Knife
  21. Date: April 20, 2015
    Victim Name: Jeremy Matthew Darnell, 37
    Alleged Perpetrator: James Burton, 33
    Relationship: None
    Town: Elkin      County: Surry
    Weapon:Firearm
    Note: Mr. Burton is the ex-husband of an unnamed female victim, who broke up with Mr. Darnell on April 15. The following day, the female victim called police on Mr. Darnell, and then called her ex-husband Mr. Burton because she was scared that Mr. Darnell would return. Mr. Darnell returned a few hours later and Mr. Burton shot him as he attempted to break into the home. No charges were filed against Mr. Burton. NCCADV includes this homicide because but for domestic violence (the domestic violence Mr. Danrell was perpetrating) he would still be alive. 
  22. Date: April 18, 2015
    Victim Name: Kimberly Dianne Richardson, 25
    Alleged Perpetrator: Daniel Joseph Steele, 25
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Raleigh      County: Wake
    Weapon: Firearm
  23. *Date: April 27, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Valerie Bigelow Wiley, 46
    Alleged Perpetrator: Charles Michael Glass, 39
    Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
    Town: Yanceyville      County: Caswell
    Weapon: Firearm
  24. *Date: April 28, 2015  Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Tamika McClelland, 39
    Alleged Perpetrator: Halim Stovall, 39
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Charlotte      County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Set on fire
  25. Date: May 2, 2015
    Victim Name: Moesha Lockamy, 18
    Alleged Perpetrator: Derrick Williams, 42
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Wilson\\\’s Mill      County: Johnston
    Weapon: Firearm
  26. *Date: May 4, 2015 Murder-Suicide
     Victim Name: Jennifer Lynn Mansfield, 27
    Alleged Perpetrator: Shawn Lamont Everett, 39
    Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
    Town: Elizabeth City     County: Pasquotank
    Weapon: Firearm
  27. *Date: May 19, 2015  Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Lisa King, 51
    Alleged Perpetrator: Ben Elliott King, 52
    Relationship: Estranged Husband
    Town: Gastonia      County: Gaston
    Weapon: Firearm
  28. *Date: May 19, 2015  Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: James Baxter Baucom, 58
    Alleged Perpetrator: Ben Elliott King, 52
    Relationship: None
    Town: Gastonia      County: Gaston
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Mr. Baucom was the boyfriend of Ms. King, Mr. King’s estranged wife who was also shot and killed by Mr. King.
  29. Date: May 21, 2015
    Victim Name: Tonya Sutton, 39
    Alleged Perpetrator: Michael Sutton, 42
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Raleigh      County: Wake
    Weapon: Firearm
  30. Date: June 6, 2015 (body found)
    Reported Missing: April 28, 2015
    Victim Name: Summer Swindell, 22
    Alleged Perpetrator: Michael Ballance, 27
    Relationship: Ex-husband
    Town: Havelock      County: Craven
    Weapon: Unknown (exact cause of death has not been released)
  31. Date: June 10, 2015
    Victim Name: Clarence Smith, 54
    Alleged Perpetrator: Sheri Jones, 57
    Relationship: Ex-girlfriend
    Town: Fayetteville
    County: Cumberland
    Weapon: Firearm
  32. Date: June 28, 2015
    Victim Name: Vlowski Hampton, 28
    Alleged Perpetrator: Eva Lynn Hampton, 35
    Relationship: Wife
    Town: Fayetteville    County: Cumberland
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Mrs. Hampton was charged with voluntary manslaughter after reportedly shooting her husband during a physical altercation in which Mr. Hampton was beating and choking her. Police reports indicate that Mr. Hampton had been charged with domestic violence three times in the 18 months prior to the shooting. NCCADV includes this homicide because but for domestic violence (the domestic violence Mr. Hampton was perpetrating) he would still be alive. 
  33. *Date: July 2, 2015 Murder-Suicide  
    Victim Name: Cathy Simmons, 52
    Alleged Perpetrator: Kevin Simmons, 53
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Elon      County: Alamance
    Weapon: Firearm
  34. *Date: July 10, 2015 Murder-Suicide  
    Victim Name: Blondell Green, 57
    Alleged Perpetrator: Jaquay Hill, 25
    Relationship: None
    Town: Washington      County: Beaufort
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Ms. Green’s daughter, Shanequa Wallace, was staying in a domestic violence shelter at the time of the shooting. Ms. Wallace stated that she believed the bullets were intended for her. Mr. Hill allegedly called Ms. Wallace’s daughter Eli asking to speak with Ms. Wallace directly after the shooting before taking his own life. 
  35. Date: July 7, 2015
    Victim Name: Edward Praytor, 67
    Alleged Perpetrator: Nancy Hogan, 50
    Relationship: Ex-girlfriend
    Town: Marshall      County: Madison
    Weapon: Knife, blunt force trauma
  36. Date: July 13, 2015
    Victim Name: Calandra McLean, 42
    Alleged Perpetrator: Billy Jo McLean, 54
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Sanford      County: Lee
    Weapon: Fire
  37. Date: July 13, 2015
    Victim Name: Tashonna Cameron, 13
    Alleged Perpetrator: Billy Jo McLean, 54
    Relationahip: Step-father
    Town: Sanford      County: Lee
    Weapon: Fire

  38. Date: July 18, 2015
    Victim Name: Shuang Liu
    Alleged Perpetrator: Sebastian Mendez, 25
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Jacksonville      County: Onslow
    Weapon: Strangled
  39. Date: July 18, 2015
    Victim Name: Archer Liu, 5 mos. old
    Alleged Perpetrator: Sebastian Mendez, 25
    Relationship: Father
    Town: Jacksonville      County: Onslow
    Weapon: Suffocated
    Notes: NCCADV typically does not report family violence homicides, but is including this child\s death as it was also related to his mother, Shang Liu’s death.
  40. *Date: July 22, 2015  Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Velma Sanders, 68
    Alleged Perpetrator: Deland Sanders, 69
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Jacksonville      County: Onslow
    Weapon: Firearm
  41. Date: July 26, 2015
    Victim Name: Tracy Williams
    Alleged Perpetrator: Gary Yarborough, 35
    Relationship: Ex-boyfriend
    Town: Franklinton      County: Franklin
    Weapon: Firearm
  42. Date: August 2, 2015
    Victim Name: Jason Corbett, 39
    Alleged Perpetrator: Molly Corbett, Thomas Martens
    Relationship: Wife, Father-in-law
    Town: Lexington      County: Davidson
    Weapon: Baseball bat/paving stone
  43. Date: August 5, 2015
    Victim Name: Jeffrey Brittain, 51
    Alleged Perpetrator: Brittany Crocket, 27
    Relationship: Girlfriend
    Town: Mill Spring      County: Polk
    Weapon: Poisoning
  44. *Date: August 9, 2015  Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Uriah Fuller, 4
    Alleged Perpetrator: Shawn Fuller, 31
    Relationship: Father
    Town: Statesville      County: Iredell
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Uriah and his brother were allegedly killed by Mr. Fuller during a domestic violence incident involving their mother/Mr. Fuller’s wife Bianca Fuller. Mr. Fuller was demanding to know where his gun was and Ms. Fuller initially refused to tell him. He assaulted and choked her until she told him where it was and fled the home. Mr. Fuller shot both of his sons and then himself moments after Ms. Fuller fled.
  45. *Date: August 9, 2015  Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Josiah Fuller, 3
    Alleged Perpetrator: Shawn Fuller, 31
    Relationship: Father
    Town: Statesville      County: Iredell
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Josiah and his brother were allegedly killed by Mr. Fuller during a domestic violence incident involving their mother/Mr. Fuller’s wife Bianca Fuller. Mr. Fuller was demanding to know where his gun was and Ms. Fuller initially refused to tell him. He assaulted and choked her until she told him where it was and fled the home. Mr. Fuller shot both of his sons and then himself moments after Ms. Fuller fled.
  46. Date: August 18, 2015
    Victim Name: Anthony Lamont Howie, 33
    Alleged Perpetrator: Shirley Takeisha Martin, 22
    Relationship: Girlfriend
    Town: Charlotte      County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Firearm
  47. Date: August 25, 2015
    Victim Name: Heidi Lyn Hamilton, 26
    Alleged Perpetrator: Edward Lee Price, Jr., 33
    Relationship: Live-In Boyfriend
    Town: Lenoir      County: Caldwell
    Weapon: Firearm
  48. Date: August 27, 2015
    Victim Name: Robert Jon Brickman, 70
    Alleged Perpetrator: Maria Brickman, 53
    Relationship: Wife
    Town: Murphy      County: Cherokee
    Weapon: Firearm 
  49. Date: September 13, 2015
    Victim Name: Jessie James Locklear, 44
    Alleged Perpetrator: Jennie Lynn Locklear, 53
    Relationship: Ex-Wife
    Town: Rowland      County: Robeson
    Weapon: Firearm
  50. Date: September 17, 2015
    Victim Name: Kadijah Zhane Lenzy, 20
    Alleged Perpetrator: Zavier Miguel Teach, 21
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Kinston      County: Lenoir
    Weapon: Firearm
  51.  *Date: September 19, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Judith Causey, 37
    Alleged Perpetrator: Kevin Connor, 50
    Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
    Town: Charlotte      County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Connor also shot Causey’s current boyfriend, but he survived. 
  52. *Date: September 24, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Roxie Maribel Ramos, 35
    Alleged Perpetrator: Manuel Raya Andrade, 21
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Ramseur (just outside city limits)      County: Randolph
    Weapon: Asphyxiation (Victim was suffocated to death) 
  53. Date: September 25, 2015
    Victim Name: Thomas Bayne, 45
    Alleged Perpetrator: Tina Bayne
    Relationship: Wife
    Town: Lake Toxaway      County: Transylvania
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Tina Bayne was not charged in the shooting death of her husband as police determined the shooting was in self-defense. The District Attorney cited a long history of domestic violence perpetrated by Thomas Bayne.
  54. Date: September 27, 2015
    Victim Name: Yawanda Felecia Doe, 35
    Alleged Perpetrator: Darrell Gerard Taylor, 34
    Relationship: Fiancé
    Town: Wilmington      County: New Hanover
    Weapon: Firearm
  55. Date: September 27, 2015
    Victim Name: Dariya Doe-Taylor, 20 months
    Alleged Perpetrator: Darrell Gerard Taylor, 34
    Relationship: Father
    Town: Wilmington      County: New Hanover
    Weapon: Firearm
  56. Date: October 3, 2015
    Victim Name: Alexia Mayfield, 23
    Alleged Perpetrator: Immanuel Felton, 25
    Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
    Town: Charlotte      County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Firearm
  57. *Date: October 6, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Raluca Iosif, 40
    Alleged Perpetrator: David Dietrich Holder, 40
    Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
    Town: Durham      County: Durham
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Victim’s brother was also shot, but he survived. 
  58. Date: October 24, 2015
    Victim Name: Kena McMillan, 41
    Alleged Perpetrator: Wendell Hardie, 42
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Chadbourn      County: Columbus
    Weapon: Firearm  
  59. Date: October 27, 2015
    Victim Name: Stephanie Lynn Autry, 34
    Alleged Perpetrator: Lanson Paul Stalf, 39
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Wake Forest      County: Wake
    Weapon: Firearm 
  60. Date: October 28, 2015
    Victim Name: Sarah Acker, 53
    Alleged Perpetrator: Jerry Hunter, 43
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Charlotte     County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Blunt Force Trauma 
  61. Date: November 2, 2015
    Victim Name: Robert Crampton, 31
    Alleged Perpetrator: Jennifer Crampton, 28
    Relationship: Ex-Wife
    Town: Castle Hayne     County: New Hanover
    Weapon: Firearm 
  62. *Date: November 5, 2015 Murder-Suicide 
    Victim Name: Sabrina Conswayla Rowdy Belcher, 48
    Alleged Perpetrator: Gerry Oliver Belcher, 55
    Relationship: Estranged Husband
    Town: Lewisville      County: Forsyth
    Weapon: Firearm 
  63. Date: November 5, 2015
    Victim Name: Lori Blackwood Suhy, 41
    Alleged Perpetrator: Howard Earl Bates, 49
    Relationship: Ex-Boyfriend
    Town: Rutherfordton     County: Rutherford
    Weapon: Firearm
  64. Date: November 12, 2015
    Victim Name: Patsy Nicole Reaves, 43
    Alleged Perpetrator: David Anthony Gordon, 50
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Rowland      County: Robeson
    Weapon: Firearm
  65. *Date: November 23, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Jennifer Summers, 45
    Alleged Perpetrator: Michael Summers, 46
    Relationship: Estranged Husband
    Town: Clayton      County: Johnston
    Weapon: Firearm
  66. Date: November 23, 2015
    Victim Name: Rebecca Priest McPherson, 35
    Alleged Perpetrator: Karl Mathis Purcell, 54
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Hoffman      County: Richmond
    Weapon: Firearm
  67. Date: December 9, 2015
    Victim Name: Danielle Newell, 50
    Alleged Perpetrator: Timothy Leonard
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Cornelius      County: Mecklenburg
    Weapon: Drowning
  68. Date: December 11, 2015
    Victim Name: Tim Fry, 51
    Alleged Perpetrator: Robin Richardson, 47
    Relationship: Girlfriend
    Town: Arden      County: Buncombe
    Weapon: Firearm 
  69. Date: December 19, 2015
    Victim Name: Krystal Juell Hylton, 28
    Alleged Perpetrator: Brandon Lee, 34
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: Cary      County: Wake
    Weapon: Strangled 
  70. *Date: December 25, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Lakeliah Whitworth, 25
    Alleged Perpetrator: Eric Holbrook, 45
    Relationship: None
    Town: Hickory      County: Catawba
    Weapon: Firearm
    Note: Ms. Whitworth was killed while trying to defend her mother, Lashun Ruff, who was in a domestic violence dispute with her boyfriend, Mr. Holbrook.
  71. *Date: December 25, 2015 Murder-Suicide
    Victim Name: Maria Sanchez, 39
    Alleged Perpetrator: Erick Sanchez, 61
    Relationship: Husband
    Town: Sanford      County: Lee
    Weapon: Firearm
  72. Date: December 29, 2015
    Victim Name: Marcus Fields, 36
    Alleged Perpetrator: Chelsea Collier, 23
    Relationship: Girlfriend
    Town: Henderson       County: Vance
    Weapon: Firearm
  73. Date: December 30, 2015
    Victim Name: Kare Lohri, 31
    Alleged Perpetrator: Arden Lowry, 35
    Relationship: Boyfriend
    Town: New Bern      County: Craven
    Weapon: Unknown 

Domestic violence is prevalent and lethal. 71 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, 99 lives were lost due to the violent and lethal consequences of domestic violence; 71 victims and an additional 28 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.