RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office reports arresting a man in connection with an overdose death in March.
Chad Ledbetter(Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies said they responded to Ozzie Drive in Bostic regarding a death investigation on Mar. 29. Investigators received an autopsy report on Sept. 29, where a fentanyl overdose was determined to be the cause of death.
Chad Ledbetter was arrested by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Spindale Police Department, and Road Patrol deputies on Friday on warrants for death by distribution and sell or deliver a controlled substance, according to deputies.
Ledbetter was given a $250,000 secured bond after his arrest.
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HOKE COUNTY — A man was arrested in Hoke County after he was wanted in a death by distribution case in Robeson County.
DeAngelo Gerald Cobb
The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office announced that on Tuesday members of the Narcotic/Vice Suppression Unit (NVSU), Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Apprehension Team served an arrest warrant on DeAngelo Gerald Cobb at his residence in the 1800 block of Balfour Road, just north of the Robeson County line outside of Red Springs.
Cobb was wanted out of Robeson County for an arrest warrant in reference to a death by distribution case.
While doing a safety sweep of the home, law enforcement observed marijuana, suspected psilocybin mushrooms, and firearms in plain view. The residence was seized and detectives with the NVSU obtained a narcotic search warrant.
Devin Shytel Southerland-Clark
While serving the search warrant, approximately 4 1/2 pounds of marijuana were found in various rooms throughout the house. Detectives also located four firearms, THC resin, bulk US currency, suspected methamphetamine, packaging materials, and other items of marijuana paraphernalia.
Cobb was transported by Robeson County detectives for the service of their arrest warrant prior to the search being completed.
Detectives with the NVSU swore out additional warrants for Cobb for four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, possession of a Schedule-I controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for the sell/delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Wednesday, the arrest warrants from Hoke County Sheriff’s Office for DeAngelo Cobb were served in Robeson County. Cobb was given a $100,000.00 secured bond for the Hoke County charges and remained in the Robeson County Jail.
After the search, Virginia Carol Clark, Devin Shytel Southerland-Clark, Jacoby Anthony, Ryan McKoy, and Miah Sade Mitchell were placed under arrest by Hoke County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Hoke County Detention Center.
Clark, Southerland-Clark, McKoy, and Mitchell were all charged at the Hoke County Detention Center with possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, possession of a schedule I controlled substance, maintain a vehicle/dwelling for the sell/delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
Each received a $20,000 secured bond and a first appearance court date.
The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation is still ongoing.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — After receiving autopsy results from a death that reportedly happened in March and after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office detectives have charged a man with death by distribution.
According to a news release, Chad Ledbetter was identified as a suspect after a person was found deceased on March 29 at a residence on Ozzie Drive in Bostic. The autopsy report, which was received by investigators on Sept. 29, determined the cause of death to be fentanyl overdose.
After conducting interviews, reviewing evidence, and consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, investigators obtained warrants on Oct. 3 for death by distribution and sell or deliver a controlled substance, the release said.
On that same day, detectives with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Spindale Police Department and Road Patrol Deputies arrested Ledbetter on Hamilton Street in Spindale.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Rutherford County’s death by distribution convictions for the year have now jumped to five after the latest two convictions in August.
According to an Aug. 26 social media post by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Nathan Carpenter Beason pleaded guilty to two counts of death by distribution in Rutherford County Superior Court on Aug. 25. The sheriff’s office’s post reported that a week earlier on Aug. 18, Evelyn Robertson pleaded guilty to one count of death by distribution, and it was in connection with the same investigation.
Beason was sentenced to a minimum term of 11 years and maximum of 14 years in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections. Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date, the post said.
According to court records, one of Beason’s charges originated from a March 2022 incident investigated by the sheriff’s office after deputies responded to a fatal overdose. Warrants were ultimately secured on Oct. 17, 2022.
Records show the second charge stemmed from a separate investigation initiated by the Rutherfordton Police Department in 2020. Warrants were secured on Beason by the police on Dec. 30, 2024.
Investigators from both agencies demonstrated dedication and persistence in thoroughly investigating these cases, ultimately leading to the charges filed against Beason.
“The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to the Rutherfordton Police Department for their diligence and work in their case against Beason. The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the District Attorney’s Office for its commitment and hard work in prosecuting these complex cases,” the post said.
RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — Two women have been indicted after a child died by overdose, according to authorities.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office says they were called to a home in Asheboro in May about a juvenile overdose. EMS and fire personnel were already on scene performing life-saving measures when deputies arrived to assist, and the victim was taken to a hospital. The child was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigators found drug paraphernalia at the home and sought charges against the victim’s mother, Carrie Jo Graves, 36, and Amy Lee Locklear, 42.
The two women were both indicted by a grand jury in July. Graves was indicted for second-degree murder without regard, and Locklear was indicted for felony involuntary manslaughter.
On July 31, deputies traveled to Robeson and Cumberland Counties to take the two into custody.
Both Graves and Locklear were already wanted for failing to appear in Cumberland County, and Locklear had an additional arrest order for failing to appear in Robeson County.
Graves was taken into custody in Parkton without incident and transported back to Randolph County. She was given no bond.
Locklear was taken into custody in Saint Pauls and brought back to Randolph County. She was given a $362,000 secured bond for the various charges.
On May 11, 2024, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to King Mountain Rd., Asheboro, in reference to a juvenile overdose/cardiac arrest. Deputies assisted EMS and fire personnel, who were already on scene performing life-saving measures on a juvenile victim. The victim was then transported to an area hospital, where the victim was pronounced deceased a short time later.
While gathering information about the incident, paraphernalia for Narcotic purposes was observed. Detectives with Criminal Investigations and Crime Scene responded to collect any evidence for further investigation.
Following the investigation, charges were sought against Carrie Jo Graves (mother of the juvenile) and Amy Lee Locklear.
During the July session of the Randolph County Grand Jury, a true bill of indictment was issued on Graves for felony second-degree murder without regard, and a true bill of indictment was issued on Locklear for felony involuntary manslaughter. This indictment was issued as a result of the investigation.
On July 31, 2025, the Criminal Apprehension Team and others traveled to Robeson and Cumberland Counties in an attempt to locate and apprehend Graves and Locklear.
Graves also had an order for arrest out of Cumberland County for failing to appear on a misdemeanor.
Locklear had an order for arrest for failing to appear on a felony in Robeson County and an order for arrest for failing to appear on a felony, as well as an additional failure to appear on a misdemeanor, both in Cumberland County.
Graves was apprehended at a residence on Tawdry Ln., Parkton, NC, without incident. She was subsequently transported to the Randolph County Detention Center, where she was taken before the magistrate, who issued a first appearance of August 1, 2025, in Randolph County District Court with no bond being set due to the nature of the charges, as well as a first appearance of August 8, 2025, with a $1,000 secured bond in the Cumberland County case.
Locklear was apprehended at a residence located on King Tuck Rd., Saint Pauls, NC, without incident and was subsequently transported to the Randolph County Detention Center, where the magistrate issued a first appearance of August 11, 2025, and a secured bond of $350,000 in the Randolph County case; a first appearance of August 29, 2025, with $7,000 secured in Cumberland County; and lastly a first appearance of August 20, 2025, and a secured bond of $5,000 in Robeson County for a total secured bond of $362,000.
