Woman, 69, charged with first-degree murder of husband in New Hanover County
Dale Ann Carr was arrested nearly seven months after her husband Paul was found shot dead. A judge set her bond at $3 million secured.
New Hanover County woman faces murder charge nearly seven months after husband found shot dead
A 69-year-old woman appeared in a North Carolina court on Friday charged with the first-degree murder of her husband, whose body was discovered at the couple's home in May. According to wect.com, a judge set Dale Ann Carr's bond at $3 million secured following the hearing.
Carr was arrested on 23 October in connection with the death of Paul Anthony Carr. New Hanover County Sheriff's Office deputies had originally responded to a welfare check at 28 Stoney Road on 30 May, where they found Paul Carr dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
A months-long investigation preceded the charges against Dale Carr, who was initially held at the New Hanover County Detention Facility without bond.
During Friday's hearing, prosecutors set out the basis for treating Paul Carr's death as a homicide rather than a suicide. Dale Carr had initially told investigators she heard gunshots and found her husband dead by suicide, but her account of the weapon's whereabouts later shifted. She first stated she had moved her husband's gun using a pen, then admitted to moving it with her hand — a discrepancy corroborated by fingerprint testing, prosecutors said. State attorneys also told the court that the home's motion-activated cameras had been disconnected hours before the shooting, and that an autopsy revealed Paul Carr had defensive wounds.
The state argued Dale Carr posed a flight risk, citing the fact that she had recently put her house up for sale, and requested she be held without bond. Defence attorneys countered that she presented no danger to the community and no risk of flight, pointing out she had remained in the area for seven months since the incident and characterising the case as one involving domestic violence.
The judge set bond at $3 million secured. If released, Dale Carr — who remained in a wheelchair throughout the proceeding — must wear an electronic monitor and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
She is scheduled to return to court on 12 November. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)