Detectives Investigting a Homicide on The Plaza

UPDATE: On Sunday afternoon, CMPD Homicide Unit Detectives signed a murder warrant against Keenan Daryl Harte for the murder of Mr. Blackeney. The Violent Criminals Apprehension Team (VCAT) along with the assistance of officers from the University City Division arrested Mr. Harte without incident on Sunday night.

This marks Mr. Harte’s 11th arrest in Mecklenburg County since August of 2005.
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Detectives are currently investigating a homicide which occurred in the parking lot at 3112 The Plaza. The incident occurred on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 4:00 a.m., in the Eastway Division. The victim has been identified as Brandon Blackeney, 21.

Eastway Division officers responded to a call for service in reference to a subject having been shot in the area of Club Crystal. When officers arrived on scene they located Mr. Blackeney suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. Medic pronounced Mr. Blackeney deceased on scene.

Based on the preliminary information, detectives have reason to believe that Mr. Blackeney was in the area with the intention of going to Club Crystal. While standing in a parking lot across Shamrock Drive, Mr. Blackeney had a dispute with a black male. The black male is believed to have shot the victim and fled the area in a white Dodge Charger.

The Homicide Unit and ADW Unit canvassed the neighborhood for any potential witnesses. Crime Scene Search units processed the scene for physical evidence.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a homicide detective. Detective T. Brandon is the lead detective assigned to the case. In addition, you may also call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Arrest Made in Nikki McPhatter Murder

UPDATE IV: The Richland County Sheriff's Office released a timeline of events surrounding Nikki McPhatter's murder.

UPDATE III: A second arrest was made today in the case of the disappearance and death of Nikki McPhatter. Deputies said Kendra Goodman was an acquaintance of Manning, who drove with him last month to the location where he dumped McPhatter’s body and car. Goodman is charged with being an accessory after a felony, and was denied bond late Thursday afternoon.

UPDATE II: News Release from CMPD: On May 11, 2009, Nikki McPhatter was reported missing to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department with the case being assigned to the Missing Persons Unit.

During the course of their investigation, information was developed indicating a possibility of foul play. Due to these developments, CMPD Homicide detectives took the lead in the investigation on May 20, 2009.

CMPD dedicated significant investigative resources that led detectives to Richland County, S.C. At this time, CMPD Homicide unit began a joint investigation with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office. Over the course of the past week, detectives developed information that identified Theodore Roosevelt Manning IV "Teddy" (Photo above) as being responsible for the death of Ms. McPhatter.

The investigation led detectives to the location of Ms. McPhatter’s 2003 Black Honda Accord and the body of which we believe to be that of Ms. Mcphatter in Fairfield County, which neighbors Richland County. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department obtained a warrant for the arrest of Theodore Roosevelt Manning IV (DOB 10/10/1979). Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrested Mr. Manning at 7:04 p.m. this evening at his residence, which is located at 8047 Bluff Road Gadston, S.C.

UPDATE: An arrest has been made in the disappearance of Nikki McPhatter. The Charlotte woman disappeared more than three weeks ago. Relatives say they were notified today that McPhatter is dead. Police in Charlotte are holding a news conference at 9 pm Friday to provide more information.

Name: Nikki McPhatter
Incident Date: 5-11-2009
Last Seen: 8618 Rozumny Dr.
Race: Black - Gender: Female
Height: 5’5” - Weight: 150
DOB: 9-28-1978
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

SYNOPSIS: Ms. McPhatter was last seen leaving her residence on May 4, 2009 en route to an unknown destination driving a 2003/Black/Honda-Accord/ displaying N.C. tag # PHATTAH. If you see this vehicle, please call 911.

- View America's Most Wanted coverage

Man ordered to stay away from ex-wife after release from jail

WCNC: A frightened domestic abuse victim begged a judge to protect her family on Friday. The judge was asked to keep the family safe after the NewsChannel-36 I-Team asked the court system some tough questions, like why the abusive ex-husband was not being required to stay away.

As Thomas Price Jr. dodged WCNC's cameras Friday in Greensboro, his ex-wife, Heather Thompson faced them. She finds the courage to face the cameras these days, even though she has photographs in her mind that will haunt her forever.

More than 14 years ago, Price nearly beat Thompson to death. Those crime photos show a bruised, battered and beaten woman -- not the woman we now see.

But today, Price walks free again and Thompson says she will live in fear again.

"The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior," Thompson said.
Price terrorized Thompson from behind bars with letters.

"... I can't wait to see the fear in your eyes... before I kill you!" he wrote.

Price even threatened to kill their children. Price was then moved to federal prison, but that eased his release restrictions to not include a restraining order. After a NewsChannel 36 investigation, a hearing was scheduled to change that.

The hearing was at the federal courthouse in Greensboro on Friday. WCNC was in court and so was Heather Thompson.

"He agreed to six months GPS and curfew, and three years no contact with me and the kids," said Thompson. "I would've recognized him on the street," said Thompson after seeing Price for the first time in 14 years. "We didn't make eye contact."

She says it was chilling to hear is voice again. "He didn't say a whole lot, but that bothered me a little bit because the last time I heard his voice was that night and he was telling me that I wasn't going to live to see my kids," Thompson said.

"That voice haunts me," she added. "I do feel empowered right now because every step of the process that I have pushed for to get more restrictions on him, it was empowering, you know. I won today. We won."

Links: Read Full Post about Heather Thompson's story & WSOC-TV's News Story & MSNBC Article

Sexual Assault on Burroughs Street

On Wednesday May 27, 2009, at approximately 3:00 p.m., a female victim was walking along Burroughs Street when she was approached from behind by two unknown black males. The victim was taken behind a vacant house and sexually assaulted by the two unknown males. A passerby, hearing the victim's screams for help, approached and confronted the suspects which allowed the victim to flee.

The suspects are described as follows:

#1- Light skinned black male, very thin, 5'8", 140-160 lbs. Mustache, mole on left cheek, long, shoulder length dreds, deep voice, 19-20 years old. Last seen wearing: White tanktop, light gray "Dickie" style pants, baggy, with a belt, Dingy white Air Force One shoes.

#2- Dark skinned black male, round, heavy set, 5'5", 200 lbs, goatee and mustache, 2 diamond earrings, Dreds, to the neck line, with gold tips on ends, deep voice, 19-20 years old, fresh/new cut over his left eye. Last seen wearing: Long Red Shirt, white pants, muddy white Air Force One shoes.

Witness: Black male, tanned/medium dark skinned, 14-16 years old, hair style is short braids in different directions all over his head. Last seen wearing: White t-shirt, tan pants.

If you have any information that could help police, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

CMPD: Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit Arrest

On May 4, 1997, a 29 year old female was walking on Boone St near Oaklawn Ave. when an unknown black male pulled up to her and forced her into his vehicle. He threatened to assault her with a knife. He drove her to a remote location and sexually assaulted her. He then drove her to Ludlow Ave where he forced her out of the vehicle. She immediately found help from a nearby resident who contacted the police.

No suspect was developed in the case during the initial investigation, however, using forensic evidence collected during the original investigation, the CMPD Crime Lab and the Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit have identified and charged Johnny William Bell of Charlotte with the crime.

The Mecklenburg County District Attorneys Office has reviewed the investigation and authorized the charges of 1st degree Kidnapping and two counts of 2nd degree Sex Offense. This investigation was completed within days of Johnny Bell being released from the NC Department of Corrections where he was serving time from a Charlotte drug conviction.

Through cooperation of the NC DOC and CMPD, Johnny W Bell was picked up at the Morrison Correctional Facility in Hoffman, NC as he completed his active prison sentence.