Man, teenager found
dead in NC home 

TURKEY (AP) — The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the deaths of a man and teenage girl found inside his home in Turkey.

Deputies found the bodies of 39-year-old Carlos Vazquez and 18-year-old Itzel Vazquez of Fayetteville after getting a 911 call.

The sheriff’s office has declined to say how the two are related.

No other information has been released.

 

NC man accused of
stealing meteorites 

BREVARD (AP) — Transylvania County authorities have made one arrest following the theft of 100 meteorites from a science education center and are searching for a second suspect.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that 29-year-old Brian Koontz of Balsam Grove is charged with breaking and entering, larceny and injury to personal property. He is being held at the Transylvania County jail.

Video surveillance captured two thieves breaking into the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute near Rosman about 3 a.m. on Christmas Eve.

The thieves took meteorites that were on loan to the institute. They also took television monitors, overhead video projectors, a microscope and other scientific instruments.

 

Fatally shot hunter
was Fort Bragg soldier 

SANFORD (AP) — Authorities say the hunter who died after being shot in Lee County was a Fort Bragg soldier.

The Fayetteville Observer reports that 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Robert Devitto joined the Army in 2005 after graduating from high school in Pennsylvania and served tours in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Friends found Devitto on Dec. 18 with buckshot wounds to his face and chest after he didn’t return home from duck hunting alone on state wildlife game lands. He died three days later. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Devitto is survived by his wife, Jaimi Devitto, and his parents
and sister who live in Shippensburg, Pa.

A service will be 4 p.m. Friday in Greencastle, Pa. Burial with full military honors will be Jan. 9 at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Man found insane again,
murder charges dismissed 

FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — A judge has again dismissed charges against a man accused of killing his father and cousin nearly 12 years ago.

The Fayetteville Observer reports Monday that Jamal Gurley was again found insane and ordered to a state psychiatric care hospital in Butner. The order from Superior Court Judge Greg Weeks says Gurley will probably never regain his sanity long enough to be tried.

It was the fifth time Gurley was found incompetent to stand trial for the March 2001 deaths of his father, Bobby Gurley, and teenage cousin Shakiya Taylor. She died of multiple stab wounds. Bobby Gurley’s bed was set on fire as he slept.

The district attorney’s office said in 2004 it would seek the death penalty. But Gurley’s mental illness has repeatedly delayed the case.

 

Woman, 65, killed outside
Jacksonville bingo hall

JACKSONVILLE (AP) — Police say the 65-year-old widow of a retired Marine was killed in a shooting outside a Jacksonville bingo hall.

Investigators say Kim Flournoy was shot around 7:45 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of TNT Bingo. Authorities say the gunman then got into a white or silver Dodge or Chrysler four-door sedan with several other people inside.

Police have not released a motive for the shooting.