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Prosecutor: Murder of Lake Wylie couple, mattress store robbery linked

LAKE WYLIE, S.C. — For the first time -- in open court -- police have linked the murder of Doug and Debbie London to the robbery of a mattress store.

IMAGES: Scene of Lake Wylie double homicide from Chopper 9

On Thursday morning, a prosecutor said Malcolm Hartley killed the Londons to prevent Doug from testifying in the mattress store robbery case, and that's why he should be denied bond.

Channel 9 had been asking investigators if the cases were linked since the Londons were found shot to death in their Lake Wylie home in October.

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Thursday in Mecklenburg County court, prosecutors told a judge Doug London was the only witness in the robbery of his south Charlotte mattress store in May, 2014, and said "the murder took place in order to stop the husband from appearing in court to testify."

Hartley did not say anything in court. He was asking for bond on a probation violation but the judge denied his request.

Hartley has been fighting extradition to South Carolina to face the murder charges.

 South Carolina officials issued a warrant on Hartley and it was sent Wednesday to Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.

Timeline of events:

  • Jan. 30, 2015: Police said that Malcolm Jerrel Hartley, 22, and Brianna Johnson, 18, are arrested in connection with the double homicide investigation of the Londons.
  • Dec. 2, 2014: Cureton and Adoma plead not guilty in the armed robbery case, officials said. David Fudge, who drove the getaway car, was sentenced to probation after his guilty plea earlier in the year. 
  • Oct. 30, 2014: Federal prosecutors take over the armed robbery case that accuses Jamell Cureton and Nana Adoma of robbing the Londons' mattress store.
  • Oct. 23, 2014: Doug and Debbie London are found shot to death in their Lake Wylie home.
  • May 25, 2014: Two men rob the Wholesale Mattress Warehouse on South Boulevard owned by Doug and Debbie London. One of the robbers and Doug London exchange gun fire, police said.


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