It's Murder

It’s a homicide.  The  32-year-old man who was found dead in his home Tuesday night was murdered.  Wilkes County Sheriff Chris Shew told 3WC News today that the autopsy came back shortly after 12 noon and showed the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.  This past Tuesday night, Justin David Alexander was found deceased in his mobile home at 121 Triplette Hollow Road in Hays.  Alexander was last seen alive on Monday.  At this time, there is a person of interest in the homicide.  As to the weapon used or any information on the person of interest, Sheriff Shew would not comment.  He only said the investigation is continuing.  The SBI is also assisting in this homicide investigation.

Candlelight Vigil for Missing Person Tonight

A candlelight vigil is planned tonight for a missing person from Wilkes.  According to www.ncmissingpersons.org, Jeffery Lynn Combs has been missing from North Wilkesboro since October 23, 2008.   Combs’s mother returned home from work three years ago to discover a note written by Jeffery saying, “my scooter was stolen” and he was going to the bridge on Suncrest Orchard road to look for it, and to come look for him if he was not back by dark.” Local law enforcement searched the area of the bridge on Suncrest Orchard Road and located the stolen scooter along with clothing belonging to Mr. Combs.  Residents in the neighborhood confirmed seeing Jeffery in the area, but to this day his whereabouts are still unknown.  Jeffery Combs would be 43 years old now.  He is described as a white male, 5’6, 190 lbs, blonde hair, and blue eyes.   Due to previous injuries and a stroke, both arms and hands are crippled and his left arm is paralyzed.   If you have any information regarding his disappearance, you’re asked to call the Wilkes County Sheriff  at 903-7600.  The candlelight vigil for Jeffery Lynn Combs will be held at 6pm today at the Old Lowes Supermarket parking lot on Second Street in North Wilkesboro.  Those involved with the search will be there.  The public is invited.

Local Business Broken Into....Again

A local business has been robbed again.  Just a few weeks ago, we reported a break-in that resulted in thousands of dollars in stolen property and damages from Interconnect in Wilkesboro.  Now….it has happened again.  This time hundreds of dollars in stolen property was stolen and damages haven’t been determined yet.  Interconnect called Wilkesboro Police when employees arrived to work this week to find the lock to the security fence missing and the gate open.  Five trucks, a flatbed truck, and a trailer were hit by thieves.  Crowbars had been used to pry open tool boxes.  Stolen property included electric drills and saws, battery-operated screw-drivers, grinder wheels and other tools totaling over 800 dollars.  Again damages to the 5 toolboxes and trucks have not yet been determined.  The owner told police that there was no surveillance video of the theft, so there are no suspect information at this time.

Nabbed Before They Robbed

Wilkesboro Police and the Highway Patrol did stop a burglary before it could be completed at a local restaurant.  This week police received a call about someone behind Glen’s Restaurant after it was closed.  When police arrived, a Trooper was already on the scene and had a woman in custody.  The woman, Hope Prevette of Wilkesboro, took off running when the Trooper arrived but was stopped from leaving the scene.  Prevette had gloves and a tire iron with her.  The back light to the restaurant had been broken out, but she had not gotten inside the business.  She denied any knowledge of the broken light and said she was just out walking after leaving Lowes Motel.  Prevette was arrested and taken to the Wilkes County Women’s Detention Center.  She was charged with felony possession of burglary tools and misdemeanor larceny.  

Theft in Broad Daylight

Well it looks like at least one break-in and larceny this past week happened in broad daylight.  In a report filed with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department, a Millers Creek resident said that they left to go out-of-town about 6:15 am and returned just before 11.  In that time, someone had cut the lock off his roll-up shed door and had stolen his 4-wheeler.  The victim found the door open when he returned home.  The ATV is described as a 2008 Kawasaki, black with silver stripes, red racks, and chrome wheels.  The stolen 4-wheeler is valued at 8100 dollars.  No suspects were listed with the report.

Senator Hagan Working on Parts of Presidents Jobs Act

Following the President’s American Jobs Act Bus Tour this week where he had a stopover in Millers Creek, Senator Kay Hagan held a press conference yesterday to discuss her efforts to focus on parts of the President’s jobs plan to benefits North Carolina. 3WC News asked Senator Hagan to name which parts of the President’s plan she is working on to help us in Wilkes and in North Carolina. Hagan said they needed to focus on the parts for Veterans, refurbishment of schools, infrastructure, and the payroll tax deduction. 

Hear the complete press teleconference with Senator Hagan:   http://www.12403wc.com/3wc-podcasts/2011/10/21/thursday-press-teleconference-with-senator-hagan.html

Congresswoman Foxx Bill for Veteran's Spouses Passes

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s (NC-05) bipartisan legislation that fixes a flaw in the VA home loan system passed the House this week as part of H.R. 2433, the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act.  Her bill, the Disabled Veterans’ Surviving Spouses Home Loans Act, provides access to VA home loans for surviving spouses of permanently disabled veterans whose deaths are not necessarily attributed to their service-related disability.   “As we approach Veterans Day, we should ask ourselves if this Congress doing all that can be done for our veterans,” Foxx said before the House. (video) “This bill maintains our promise not only to the men and women that have served in theArmed Forces, but to their families as well.”  Under current law, most surviving spouses of veterans whose deaths were not service-connected, but who had permanent, service-connected disabilities, are eligible to receive monthly compensation payments from the VA.  These same spouses could not, however qualify for a VA home loan.  Foxx’s bill, which passed the House as part of H.R. 2433, corrects this problem by making these spouses eligible for the loan.  The Disabled American Veterans, America Legion, the MOAA and the VFW endorsed her legislation. The 2.1 million member Veterans of Foreign Wars stated in a letter of support that “allowing a military widow to utilize the VA home loan program is the right thing to do.”

Autopsy Results Expected Today

A 32-year-old man was found dead in his home Tuesday night.  Wilkes County Sheriff Chris Shew said Justin David Alexander was found deceased in his mobile home at 121 Triplette Hollow Road in Hays about 8pm Tuesday.  Alexander was last seen alive on Monday.  At this time the cause of death is undetermined.  Sheriff Shew said they are waiting on the preliminary autopsy results which are expected by this afternoon.  The autopsy is being done in Winston-Salem.  The SBI is also assisting in the death investigation

Stealing or Shopping from Cars

Just the cash, pills, and sunglasses please.  The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a couple of vehicle break-ins this week where the thieves stole as if they were just shopping for certain items.  In the first report, a Moravian Falls resident stated that someone broke into her car overnight.  The ’97 Toyota was locked and parked in the owner’s driveway at the time of the theft.  The thief used a coat hanger to open the door and get inside the car.  Twelve dollars in cash and some Xanax pills were taken.  The empty pill bottle was left inside the car and the owner’s pocketbook containing debit and credit cards was untouched.  The thief just took the cash and pills.  Then in a second incident, a resident on the Red, White, and Blue Road called to report a break-in of a rental car.  Again the car was parked in the victim’s driveway, and this time, the only thing stolen was a pair of Oakley sunglasses valued at 170 dollars.  No suspects were listed with either break-in and larceny.

Theft from Horse Barn

Well it wasn’t really a break-in as the doors were unlocked and open, but there definitely was a theft of several items.  A Ronda resident called the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department recently concerning a theft from his horse barn.  Taken in the theft were a Craftsman electric saw, a Black & Decker cordless drill, a Ryobi drill, 2 batteries and a charger, plus other Craftsman and Stanley tools.  Stolen property is valued over 500 dollars.  Again the doors were unlocked at the time of the theft, so someone was able to just walk in and then walk out with the tools.  However, since the theft, the victim has put locks on his barn doors.  There is a possible suspect in this theft and charges are pending further investigation.