Suspect Arrested for Murder of 92-Year Old Woman

Gordon McMullen

UPDATE:   On May 12, 2011, Gordan McMullen plead guilty to first degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, first-degree kidnapping and felony breaking and entering in the death of Mildred P. Clontz.  He will spend the rest of his life in prison.

April 14, 2008
Homicide detectives have identified 58-year old Gordon Franklin McMullen as the individual charged with the brutal murder of 92-year old Mildred Clontz.

McMullen followed Clontz home from church and shoved her into her home before stabbing her in the neck, back and chest.  He then stole her purse and took off.  Ms. Clontz was able to call 911 but she died from her injuries the following day.

McMullen is a habitual felon whose previous convictions include credit card theft, larceny, robbery with a dangerous weapon and forgery/counterfeiting. He was released from prison on March 8, 2007 after serving 20 years.  One year later, he is victimizing and killing helpless elderly women.    - View McMullen's Dept Of Corr Record-

Man Arrested after Robbing Elderly Man at Gunpoint

On August 13, 2010, at 10:30 pm, an elderly male victim was robbed at gunpoint by a white male who had knocked on the victim’s door stating that he needed help with his overheating vehicle. While the victim assisted the suspect with his car, the suspect produced a handgun and demanded the victim’s money.

The victim removed his wallet to look for cash and the suspect grabbed the wallet and fled the scene in his vehicle. Although the 84-year old victim did not suffer any injuries during the robbery, he did fall to the ground when the suspect grabbed his wallet.

The victim was able to provide a description of the suspect as a white male, about 5’7” tall, around 25 years of age with dark hair and a medium build. Patrol Officers with the CMPD Providence Division responded to the scene along with Robbery Unit Detectives to begin the initial investigation.

A Providence Division Officer was given information by the victim that his credit card was used at a Wal-Mart in Indian Trail, NC. Robbery Unit Detectives obtained the video and still shots from the store and were able to identify the suspect as Andrey Gurlov.

The CMPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) began working the case in an effort to locate Mr. Gurlov. On August 25, 2010, VCAT was deployed to multiple addresses in Matthews, Indian Trail and Charlotte in an effort to locate Mr. Gurlov and take him into custody. VCAT quickly developed intelligence that Mr. Gurlov had fled the Charlotte area for Kansas City, Kansas. VCAT coordinated with the FBI Safe Street Task Force and the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 5:30 p.m.

Two Detectives with the Robbery Unit flew to Kansas City and interviewed Mr. Gurlov in the early morning hours of Thursday, August 26, 2010. Robbery Unit Detectives are currently investigating other recent robberies to determine if Mr. Gurlov may be a suspect in any of them. Once the determination has been made, additional charges may be filed against Mr. Gurlov, who has been arrested four times previously in Mecklenburg County.

Detectives Investigating a Home Invasion-Robbery & Homicide

UPDATE: The homeowner will not be charged by authorities, the Mecklenburg District Attorney announced today per the following press release:

On August 22, 2009, 76 year old C.L. McClure was sitting in his basement room cooling off after cutting his yard. At approximately 12:30 in the afternoon, he saw a young black male walk past the door of this room. He thought it was his grandson coming by to see him. When he didn’t come into the room, Mr. McClure walked to the door to see what he was doing. He was greeted by a young man with his face covered and armed with a weapon.

Mr. McClure was told to get on the ground. He was duct taped and robbed of cash and jewelry. Another man entered into the basement as well. Mr. McClure was asked who and what was in the main house. Mr. McClure told them his wife was upstairs and to please not hurt her. One man left the other stayed. Mr. McClure’s wife was also a victim of this home invasion when they entered the home and took items from there as well.

After a brief period, the other man left and Mr. McClure got off the ground, retrieved a gun he had in the basement, and went to check on his wife. He saw a number of young men running from his house into the woods. From previous break-ins at his residence he believed that the robbers were running to a vehicle on the other side of the woods. His wife told him she was okay and he got into his vehicle. His intention at that time was to get to their car before they did and to shoot out the tires to immobilize their car until the police arrived.

As Mr. McClure approached the area where he thought a car might be parked, there was no car, and instead he saw all the young men running towards him. At this point he fired a shot in the air in an attempt to scatter them away from him and his vehicle and back into the woods. Instead, they kept running towards him. Some passed in front of his car and some behind. As Marcus Fluker passed his car he began to turn towards Mr. McClure. McClure, an Army veteran, had identified the weapon pointed at him at his house as some type of automatic weapon. When Fluker turned towards him he thought he was about to get “sprayed” by fire from this automatic weapon. He fired at him. McClure did not know if he struck him because Mr. Fluker turned back around and continued to run. At this point, McClure no longer felt in danger and did not fire his weapon again.

After the police arrived they went with Mr. McClure into the apartment complex where the individuals had been last scene. At this point, it was learned that Marcus Fluker had been struck by a single gunshot wound. At the place where he was found there was no gun. This location was not secure until the police arrived.

The investigation of this case recovered two firearms taken from Mr. McClure’s home and it is clear that Mr. Fluker was one of the individuals involved in the home invasion robbery. As a result of these events, Mr. McClure’s 70 year old wife suffered a heart attack.

In making a decision as to whether to charge Mr. McClure in this case, the District Attorney’s Office has considered all of the above facts as well as the law of self defense.

The only eyewitness to this shooting is Mr. McClure. The physical evidence corroborates what he told detectives. His idea to find the vehicle and try to delay the escape of those who invaded his home did not make him the aggressor nor did that take away his right of self defense. Mr. McClure believed that his life was in danger and fired in self-defense. It is the burden of the State in a criminal case to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a charged individual did not act in self defense. The State cannot meet that burden in this case as it appears from all the credible evidence that Mr. McClure feared for his life.

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating a home invasion/robbery which resulted in a homicide. The victim has been identified as 15-year old, Marcus Antonio Steven Fluker.

At 12:41 p.m., North Tryon Division officers responded to a home invasion robbery where four suspects broke into a home at 7619 Grier Road.

An elderly couple was inside the residence when the suspects broke in, tied up the male victim and then proceeded to ransack the house. At least one of the suspects was armed with a handgun.

After the suspects fled the scene on foot, the male victim freed himself, had his wife call 911 and then went to look for the suspects.

A few minutes later and a short distance away, the male home invasion victim encountered the suspects on Ginger Lane. The victim fired a handgun at one of the suspects, striking Mr. Fluker at least once.

At 12:44 p.m., CMPD telecommunications received a call in reference to the shooting which took place on Ginger Lane. When officers arrived on scene, they located Mr. Fluker lying on the ground suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The Charlotte Fire Department and Medic arrived on scene, treated Mr. Fluker and transported him to CMC where he was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.

Officers detained the victim of the home invasion robbery shortly after the shooting and transported him to police headquarters. The individual responsible for the shooting on Ginger Lane is the victim from the home invasion robbery.

Detectives with the Homicide Unit, ADW Unit, Robbery Unit, Gang and Firearm Enforcement Unit and officers with the North Tryon Division conducted a neighborhood canvass. Crime Scene Search was on scene as well collecting physical evidence and photographing the scene.

Homicide Detectives are working closely with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges will be filed against the victim of the robbery who shot Mr. Fluker.

Three suspects are in custody in connection to the home invasion robbery. Their names and charges are as follows:

** Joseph Graves- Charged with 2nd Degree Burglary, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon & Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
** Matthew Everett Morgan- Charged with 2nd Degree Burglary, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon & Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
** Tahjaue Wiley- Charged with 2nd Degree Burglary, Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon & Conspiracy to Commit Robbery.

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

Homicide Detectives Conducting a Death Investigation on Cherry Street

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Detectives are currently conducting a death investigation at 621 Cherry Street. The incident was reported on Friday, January 16, 2009, at 5:13 p.m., in the Providence Division. The victim has been identified; pending family notification, her name is being withheld.

Providence Division officers responded to a call for service in reference to an elderly female face down on her porch, not breathing. Medic arrived on scene and pronounced the victim deceased at 5:27 p.m. When officers arrived they roped off the scene, secured it and called for Homicide Unit detectives to respond.

Initial statements from witnesses place the victim in the front of her house earlier this morning at around 9:15 a.m. At this point in the investigation it is unknown whether the victim had contact with anyone else before the incident was reported.

Homicide Unit detectives are on scene canvassing the neighborhood while Crime Scene Search units are processing the scene for physical evidence. The cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

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

DiBruno Family Scams

UPDATE: 9/23/08: Joseph DiBruno, Jr. was sentenced to 21.8 years in Federal Prison. Joseph DiBruno, Sr. was sentenced to serve 5 years in prison.

UPDATE: 9/17/07: On the first day of the DiBruno's trial, shortly before jury selection, all three DiBruno's decided to enter plea agreements and await sentencing.

- Joseph DiBruno Sr.'s Plea Agreement
- Joseph DiBruno Jr.'s Plea Agreement
- Nick DiBruno's Plea Agreement
- Government's Exhibit List
- Second Superseding Bill of Indictment

For the past twenty years, the DiBruno family from Belmont, NC have scammed hundreds of people out of tens of millions of dollars.

The DiBruno's made a living taking advantage of the elderly, inexperienced investors and their friends. They are ruthless con-artists who have knowingly defrauded people out of their life savings to treat themselves to expensive cars, homes and jewelry.

I could not possibly list all of the scams the DiBruno’s have been involved in over the years but I promise you will get the idea if you read the following…

Joseph DiBruno, Sr. and his wife Lela DiBruno established the family criminal enterprise in the early 1980's. Joe DiBruno partnered up with some fellow crooks in 1983 to create a bogus company called 'National Gas & Power Co.' or 'NGP.' DiBruno and his co-conspirators told potential investors they operated a successful recycling plant in Virgina and planned to expand.

DiBruno produced false documentation to mislead potential investors into believing there was a company and recycling plant to invest in. He presented them with false profit information and had his cohorts act as satisfied investors to further convince the investors. After DiBruno and his cronies convinced people to invest in NGP and collected the money, they did not provide any further financial information to the ‘shareholders’ of NGP. In addition, none of the parties involved in selling the stocks were licensed security agents.

NGP was subsequently shut down by the SEC in 1989. DiBruno was convicted of security law violations but he never paid a cent to the victims he defrauded nor did he spend one day in jail for his crimes. The SEC violations didn’t stop DiBruno. This was only the beginning of his career in cheating people out of money.

DiBruno had a partner in crime named Cecil Minges. Minges was an older man and a veteran con artist himself. Minges formed a fake company in Florida called 'US Dairy.' He claimed he had the recipe for low cholesterol milk and bilked investors out of millions of dollars before US Dairy was shut down by the SEC in 1994.

Two months after Minges' company US Dairy was shut down, DiBruno formed a corporation in North Carolina called 'Golden Jersey Products' or GJP. DiBruno formed the 'shell' business to continue Minges' milk scam; however, DiBruno, Sr. took it to the next level. Joseph DiBruno informed potential investors he could buy the formula for cholesterol free milk for $2.5 million dollars. The formula was supposedly called 'Replace' and the product was to be called 'Dairy Trim.'

DiBruno had the audacity to send out press releases and have a press conference announcing his new milk product. DiBruno’s announcement appeared on CNN and in the NY Times to promote a product he didn't even have the formula for. DiBruno promised his investors a huge return on their investments and once again produced fake documentation to coax his victims into investing in the company. In addition, he had his co-conspirators on hand to act as the enthusiastic investors again.

Joe DiBruno, Sr., his criminal cohort, Cecil Minges, and his eldest son, Joe DiBruno Jr., printed piles of worthless GJP stock certificates and sent them to investors. Overall, the DiBruno’s sold 10 million shares of phony GJP stock. The list of GJB shareholders (victims) includes 350+ people.

The sad part is that DiBruno was in fact offered a cholesterol free milk formula for $2.5 million dollars; however, he never paid for it nor did he plan to. DiBruno never made any effort to buy the formula or take the steps necessary to bring the milk product to market.

In 1999, a group of investors from Florida filed a complaint against Joseph Sr., Golden Jersey Products and two co-conspirators. The investors claimed they were defrauded when they purchased GJP stock. Around the same time, the IRS filed a tax lien against the DiBruno's home in Florida for the amount of $969,027. Joe DiBruno Sr. and Lela DiBruno quickly filed for a sham divorce to protect their assets. It wasn’t until 2002 when Golden Jersey Products sent a memo to shareholders advising them GJP was bankrupt.

Joe DiBruno, Sr. and his cohorts continued the cholesterol free milk scam until the late 90's until they thought of a new scam…They invented a company who supposedly had the rights to a product had called "Immuno-C." Immuno-C was a Vitamin-C filled, chewable, tangerine flavored product with colostrum. As usual, the DiBruno's did not have a product nor did they have any intent to sell any product. It was all about selling fraudulent stock to pocket all the money.

Joseph DiBruno Jr. (Photo R) and Nicholas DiBruno starting working with their con-artist parents in the late 90's. By the year 2000, the DiBruno brothers were actively participating in the family scam business. Joe DiBruno Jr. incorporated at least nine different companies in the state of North Carolina in 2001.

In 2000, Joseph DiBruno Jr. created a company called Internet Business Design Group or IBD. Joe Jr. & Nick DiBruno scammed a South Carolina woman to invest in the non-existent IBD and promised her big returns. In 2002, the victim filed a lawsuit against I.B.D Group, Inc., Joseph DiBruno Jr. and Nicholas DiBruno. In 2003, the SC courts awarded the victim $74,500.

Another shell company DiBruno Jr. incorporated in 2001 was called 'DiBruno Brothers Mining, Inc.’ The father and sons team claimed they were part of Knights of Malta and had certain mineral rights on government land in New Mexico. They were supposedly working with the Knight of Malta to mine for gold and bring "hope and nourishment to millions of children around the world." They presented investors with fake land surveys and even went so far to forge an insurance policy from Lloyds of London guaranteeing the mine to be worth $500 million dollars!

In 2003, Joe Jr. and Nick DiBruno solicited people to invest in a company called "IFT" or International Food Technologies, Inc. The DiBruno brothers told potential investors their father was a nutritional scientist who started IFT and had developed a flavored milk product containing the sucralose sweetener "Splenda."

The DiBruno’s claimed the drink was healthier than a sugar sweetened drink and the product was intended for sale in schools throughout the United States. They gave false profit information to investors and continued to solicit them for more money. The DiBruno's told the investors the investment would profit 400%. One of the scam victims from Indiana sued the DiBruno's in 2004.

At the same time, the DiBruno's and Cecil Minges were busy persuading people to invest in their fake record company called KB Records. The men told potential investors they had signed a contract with a talented singer named Jody Lee Hage and Sony Records wanted to buy the rights to his songs for $20 million dollars. According to Hager, he lived with the DiBruno's for over a year and was paraded around completely naive to the fact the DiBruno’s were scamming him too.

In 2004, two scam victims hired a private investigator from Florida to research the DiBruno family so they could bring the case to court. The pair decided it was high time to put an end to the DiBruno family scams and see to it that justice is done. The private investigator thoroughly researched the DiBruno’s and he was able to gather enough information to put together a 586 page report to submit to the US Attorneys Office, IRS, The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Florida Division of Securities.

The DiBruno family knew they were going down and vowed their victims would never see a cent so Joseph DiBruno, Sr., Joseph DiBruno, Jr and Nicholas Dibruno all filed for bankruptcy. This was a big mistake because they were basically inviting government to look at their financial situations. Of course, the DiBruno’s did what they do best and lied on the bankruptcy filing paperwork. The family failed to include many assets and it came back to bite them.

In November of 2006, Joseph DiBruno, Sr. and his two sons were FINALLY indicted in Federal Court on charges of money laundering, securities fraud, frauds & swindles, concealing assets & defrauding the United States. Joseph DiBruno Jr. is charged with numerous additional counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, promotion of money laundering, concealment of assets and conspiracy.

Joseph DiBruno & Nicholas DiBruno were released from jail but Joseph DiBruno, Jr. remains in jail. He filed a petition for release from jail pending a trial but his petition was denied.

I hope the DiBruno boys go away for a long time! For some reason, Lela DiBruno was not indicted. She was involved in the scams and profited from them so hopefully she will be charged as well.

Links:
- Indictment: US-v-DiBruno (11/06)
- Case History: US-v-DiBruno (11/06)
- Private Investigator Case File

CMPD Officer Charged with Felony

This afternoon, Officer Richard M. Watts of the Providence Division was charged with the Class H Felony of Exploitation of an Elder or Disabled Adult (GS 14-112.2) subsection (c).

These charges resulted from a cooperative investigation between the Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Financial Crimes Unit and were filed after the case was reviewed by the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office. The charges stem from the alleged exploitation of assets related to the care of an elderly family member.

At this time, there have been no allegations and no evidence discovered that links Officer Watts to any fraudulent activity on any member of the community outside of his family. These charges are not related in any way to the performance of his duties while acting as a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer.

The findings of the criminal investigation have been turned over to the Internal Affairs Bureau and a second Administrative investigation is being conducted into the allegations filed. Officer Watts has currently been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the Internal Investigation, and he has been cited for termination. Officer Watts was hired on May 27, 1992 and is currently assigned to the Providence Division. (Read more)

Elderly Couple Attacked & Robbed; Wife Dies

On July 2, 2008, an Asian male and a Black male knocked on the door of a residence on Bonneville Dr. The 81-year old male victim answered the door. The two subjects forced their way into the house at gunpoint and knocked the elderly man to the ground. The 81-year wife was moved to a bathroom by one of the suspects.

The suspects stole several items from the residence and fled. The 81-year old woman suffered an apparent heart attack due to the stress of the incident and was transported to Presbyterian Hospital. Yesterday, the 81-year old female victim passed away from injuries she sustained during the robbery.

Today, CMPD Homicide Detectives arrested Y’Thim Kpor and charged him with Armed Robbery (2 counts), Kidnapping (2 counts), Felonious Breaking and Entering and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The investigation will be presented to the District Attorney for the determination of the additional charge of Homicide.

Homicide Detectives are continuing their efforts to identify the Black male. Detectives also believe there is an additional, third suspect that participated in the planning and orchestration of this crime. We are requesting that anyone with information please contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

CMPD Investigating Brutal Assault of Elderly Female

CMPD robbery detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the brutal assault of an elderly woman that left her with serious injuries. The incident occurred at 7525 Mary Jo Helms Drive around 12:30 this afternoon.

The 78-year old victim had visible injuries when she approached her neighbor who in turn called 911. Officers, detectives and crime scene technicians responded to the scene. Medic also responded to treat and transport Ms. Gomez to CMC where she is listed in critical condition. Because of her condition, Ms.Gomez has been unable to communicate with detectives.

Detectives are investigating the possibility that Ms. Gomez was injured during the course of a robbery. Family members report some items are missing from the home. There was no visible sign of forced entry and no suspect descriptions.

Anyone with information in this case, especially those in the area of Mary Jo Helms Drive around the time of the incident, is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

CMPD: Elderly Robbery Suspect Arrested Again

Yesterday, CMPD Officers arrested 39-year old Adrienne Patrice Johnson and charged her with common law robbery and breaking/entering after she attacked an elderly woman last Thursday. This is Adrienne Johnson's 53rd arrest in Mecklenburg County and not the first time she has attacked old ladies... (View DOC Record)

Police say an elderly female reported that a woman came to her door last Thursday and asked to use the phone. The victim allowed Johnson inside and escorted her to the phone. Johnson then knocked the victim to the floor, ransacked her room and fled with the victim's money.

Johnson was released from jail last Wednesday (one day before the robbery) for numerous larceny charges for identical offenses. Police say she was arrested on March 28th and released on April 23rd for the following seven crimes:

• On March 1, 2008: Johnson knocked on the door of a residence on Keswick Ave occupied by 73- year old female and asked to use the phone. She then grabbed the victim's purse and ran. She later returned and stole the victim's car using the keys in the purse.
• On February 25, 2008: Johnson knocked on the door of a residence occupied by a 66-year old female on Barfield Drive and asked to use the phone. After she left, the victim noticed her checkbook missing. The suspect wrote numerous checks on the victim's account.
• On February 18, 2008: Johnson asked to use the phone at a residence on Morgan Street. After the victim allowed her inside, Johnson ran off with the victim's purse.
• February 18, 2008: At a residence on Senior Drive, a 70-year old victim gave Johnson a ride in her car after Johnson falsely identified herself as a neighbor's grand-daughter. Johnson ran from the victim's vehicle with her purse.
• On February 3, 2008: A 77-year old victim reported Johnson asked to use her phone to call a family member- saying she lived next door on Tanglebrook Lane. The victim later found her wallet missing and her credit cards used by Johnson.
• On January 23, 2008: A 64-year old woman on Rollingwood Drive reported that she allowed Johnson to use her phone to call a neighbor who wasn't answering her door. She later found her wallet missing and unauthorized checks being written.
• On January 10, 2008: A 64-year old woman on Crestridge Drive allowed Johnson to use her phone and found her wallet missing.

CMPD urges all citizens not to allow strangers into their homes. If an individual requests to use your phone for an emergency, offer to call 911 for them.

Elderly Couple Robbed & Attacked on Tuckaseegee Road

Yesterday afternoon, a couple in their 80's were robbed and attacked inside their home on Tuckaseegee Road.

Police say two black males armed with a metal pipe forced their way into the victim's residence shortly after 4:00 pm. The men knocked on the door and pretended to ask for directions to lure the couple to the door.

According to a WCNC news report, the couple (Ages 85 and 82) suffered a brutal attack once they opened the door. The husband was pulled down the stairs and thrown down on the concrete with the suspects knee in his back. As his wife came to his aid, the other robber forced her into the kitchen, knocked her down and told her he would kill her if she moved.

The male victim was marched back into the home and one of the suspects him him over the head with a metal pipe which required stitches. He also suffered a hand injury. Both victims were transported to the hospital and are recovering at home.
Photo: WCNC

Woman Killed on Hovis Road-- Arrest Made

UPDATE: Police have arrested 27-year old Shaun Paul Splain (R) and charged him for the murder of Eleanor Parish. Parish was found slain in her mobile home last December.

After killing Ms. Parish, Shaun Splain fled from Charlotte to Ruskin, Florida. CMPD issued an arrest warrant earlier this month and authorities in Hillsborough County, Florida arrested Splain without incident. He was extradited to Charlotte and arrived at the Mecklenburg County Jail on Tuesday.

12/15/2007:
A 70-year old woman was found dead early this morning in her mobile home, located on Hovis Rd. Police say a neighbor called them after she hadn't seen nor heard from her elderly neighbor.

Police arrived and found Eleanor Jannette Parrish deceased. The death is being investigated as a homicide but police did not provide any details as to the cause of her death.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene and began canvassing the neighborhood for the suspect and questioning neighbors. The crime lab responded to collect evidence from the crime scene.

If you have any information, please call Charlotte Crime Stoppers anonymously at 704-334-1600. ** Photographer Jonathan Jones was at the scene and shared the shown photos.

83-Year Old Beaten & Robbed

How low will criminals go?? Shortly before 3:00 pm, an 83-year old woman was attacked and robbed in her home located on Cowles Road, which is off of Remount Rd.

Police say the woman was at her residence when she was approached by a heavy set black female asking for something to drink. The victim went into her house to get the woman a drink and the suspect followed her inside. The suspect beat the elderly woman with her walking cane and stole items from the home.

The suspect left the scene in a gray vehicle driven by another black woman. The 83-year old woman was transported to the hospital and treated for her injuries. The suspect is described as a black female in her mid-30’s with a ponytail. She was wearing a blue shirt and red Capri pants.

Please help police find the woman (animal) responsible for beating this helpless old woman. If you have any information, please call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

Elderly Woman Sexually Assaulted

UPDATE: Police arrested 37-year old Sherrod Byers. (R) He is charged with first degree burglary, first degree rape and attempted first degree sex offense.

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A woman in her late 80's was sexually assaulted early this morning on Kirkland Avenue, located in the Enderly Park Neighborhood. Police say the woman was sleeping in her bedroom when a man broke-in through the back door.

The suspect entered the woman's bedroom, disrobed, and sexually and physically assaulted the elderly woman. After the attack, the victim ran to a neighbors home for help.

Police say the rapist is a very large black male weighing approximately 300 pounds. He is described as having dark skin, 6 foot, and is 40's-50's in age.

Police Arrest Murder Suspect

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have made an arrest in Charlotte's first murder of the year. Police charged Kenneth Cyrus, 43, with killing Eva Green, 63, on Wednesday night at the Charlottetown Terrace Apartments on Baxter Street.

Police say Cyrus was a resident of the apartment building, operated by the Charlotte Housing Authority as a facility for elderly and disabled people. Cyrus lived on the same floor as Ms. Green. Kenneth Cyrus is known by neighbors as a crack addict who often roams the streets.

Cyrus' has nine arrests in the past three years, mainly for panhandling. Prior to today's arrest, he was arrested as recently as December 28th on a trespassing charge. He was released from jail on Tuesday January 2nd and killed Eva Green the next day.

Ms. Green's neighbor called 911. (Download 911 call) She is clearly distraught and you can hear her saying, "Miss Eva, Miss Eva, I just left you Miss Eva...” It was heartbreaking listening to her in such a terrible situation.

The caller told the 911 operator she found Ms. Green lying on the floor with a cord wrapped around her neck. She told the operator the intruder went through all the victims stuff and she took the cord off Ms. Green's neck. When asked, she told the operator she didn't know who had attacked her friend.

Photos by: Jonathan Jones

1st Homicide of 2007

Charlotte's first homicide in 2007 occurred yesterday.

Around 11:00 last night, CMPD Officers responded to the Charlottetown Terrace Apartments, subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled- located on Baxter Street.

Police found 63 year old Eva Dunlap Green deceased inside of her 9th floor apartment. Police said Ms. Green was strangled or suffocated and her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Photos by: Jonathan Jones
More Info: WBTV, WSOC-TV, WCNC

Union County Felon Kills Woman in Texas

The murder of Texas Real Estate Agent Sarah Anne Walker hit the mass media airwaves shortly after she was killed. Sarah Walker, 40, (L) was stabbed to death 27 times while she was inside a model home she was showing to prospective home-buyers.

The man McKinney, TX police arrested today- Kosoul Chanthakoummane, 25, was convicted for robbery and kidnapping 9 years ago in Union County, NC.

According to 6NEWS, in July of 1997, Union County police arrested Chanthakoummane, who was living in Charlotte at the time, and two other teens for kidnapping, assaulting and terrorizing two elderly people in Weddington, NC, when they tied them up and robbed them. The teens were arrested after they were pulled over, in the victim's car, for speeding and running away from police.

Police suspected all three of the teens of being members of an Asian gang because of their tattoos. Chanthakoummane (R) served eight years in prison for the crime and was released in February, according to his NC Department of Corrections Record. Chanthakoummane is charged with murder and his bond was set at $1 million.

Serial Rapist in Charlotte?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have announced that the man who raped an elderly woman in her Myers Park home last month also attacked another elderly woman almost 15 years ago. In both cases, police said, the unknown man broke into their homes. The attacks were about two miles apart, just outside uptown Charlotte, NC. And though police said they have a DNA profile that links the man to both cases, they don't know his identity.

Police said they made the connection between the two cases last week when evidence tested in the police's crime lab matched a DNA profile already logged into a database. Investigators delayed releasing the information to the public, said spokeswoman Officer Mandy Giannini, so they could alert the first victim's family. That woman has since died. At the time of the Aug. 15, 1991, attack, the woman was 85 years old. A man broke a window in the rear door of her Euclid Avenue apartment around 4 am, police said. He then assaulted her, they said, physically and sexually.

Those facts closely parallel the most recent attack. On July 16, a woman told police that a man broke into her home on Providence Road. He raped her and assaulted her, police said. That attack was also around 4 am. In initial reports, police listed the woman's age as 76 but said Thursday she was 75.

Police believe the rapist left her home on foot. Officers and dog teams searched the area that morning but found nothing. The nearly 15-year gap between attacks is unusual. But police said Thursday it's possible the man could have been incarcerated between 1991 and 2006.

It doesn't appear he is the red-underwear rapist wanted in several other attacks in the area, including the September rape of a jogger on East Boulevard and an attempted attack on Queens Road West near Croydon Road in January. The red-underwear rapist is described as a Hispanic man in his mid-30s with a dark olive complexion and close-cut hair. Police reported that when he attacked the jogger he was naked except for red underwear.

In contrast, police believe the attacker of the two elderly women is a balding and stocky black man, aged 35 to 60 who may be missing teeth. Although Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have investigated several cases of serial rapists attacking strangers recently, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a new, growing problem. It's comparatively rare for rapists to attack strangers. About seven out of 10 females who were sexually assaulted nationwide in 2004 knew their attackers, the Bureau of Justice Statistics says.

However, local rape investigators say rapists who attack strangers rarely strike just once. As DNA technology improves, police say they are able to connect more cases, making it appear that more serial rapists are attacking random women. More rapes are being reported in the city, however. In the first half of the year, police investigated 11 percent more rapes than in the same period of 2005, 174 cases compared to 157.

Have a Tip?
Police describe the rapist as a stocky black man between the ages of 35 and 60. He is about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 and may be balding or have a receding hairline. He also may be missing some teeth. Call 911 or Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600 with tips. Source: The Charlotte Observer

Elderly Woman Raped

Police are searching for a man who broke into a Myers Park home and raped an elderly woman inside. According to authorities, a 76-year-old woman reported the break-in at her home around 4:45 am on Sunday.

The attack happened on a tree-lined stretch of Providence Road just a few blocks south of Queens Road. The victim told police that the man broke in and attacked her. She was taken to Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.

Police describe the suspect as a black male, 5'6" to 5'8" tall with some or all of his teeth missing. Officials also said the man had a strong body odor. If you have any information, please contact CrimeStoppers @ (704) 334-1600.

Robbers Target Elderly

A recent scam on the elderly involves two men and one woman posing as fake power company employees. Since Thursday, the team has struck five times in three different counties: Union, Mecklenburg & Catawba.

Here is how they operate: They begin by cutting off the power then pose as power company workers and tell homeowners they have to get inside to fix the problem. While one of the suspects distracts the elderly homeowners- the others go through the house robbing them. The suspects stole one womans mothers wedding ring and cash from another elderly couple.

Police have only vague descriptions of the suspects, but they said the suspects are a Hispanic man and woman in a white pickup truck. So far they have hit Mint Hill, Union, and Catawba County.

Police and power company spokespersons said power company workers should never have to come inside a home to fix an outage and if there is any doubt, homeowners should call the power company before opening their doors. If you suspect these con-artists are in your area, call 911.

Sources: WSOC-TV & WCNC