4 NC inmates charged with murder in attempted prison escape

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Investigators are charging four North Carolina inmates with murder after the deadliest escape attempt in state prison history.

Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright said Friday that the men were behind last week's failed breakout from Pasquotank Correctional Institution.

Correctional officer Justin Smith and vocational worker Veronica Darden were killed after the inmates set a fire inside a prison sewing plant and had apparently planned to climb over prison fences, investigators said.

Smith provided security in the sewing plant and had worked as a correctional officer since 2012.

Darden supervised inmates in the plant and had worked with Correction Enterprises since 2007, previously working as a correctional officer.

Several inmates attempted to escape following the fire, but officials said no inmates left the prison yard.

Cartwright said two other employees of the prison in Elizabeth City remain in critical condition, so more charges are possible. The sheriff said last week that those hurt mostly suffered stabbing or slashing wounds.

“This has been a terrible toll,” Cartwright said. “I can't imagine these families, what they're going through, and even other employees.”

Accused of murder are 28-year-old Mikel Brady, 29-year-old Wisezah Buckman, 30-year-old Jonathan Monk and 33-year-old Seth Frazier.

Officials said all four men were in prison for “serious charges,” but officials would not elaborate on their records.

Buckman was in prison serving a 32-year sentence for the murder of Thurmont Davis in west Charlotte.

Channel 9 spoke with the manager of the store where Buckman shot and killed Davis in 2014.

“I had a call from the gentleman working the register saying there was a shooting going on out here,” the store manager said. “By this time, the whole place was cordoned off with police officers. I was able to get inside and they sequestered us inside until about 8 p.m. that night."

The store manager appeared stunned when Channel 9 noted the new charges against Buckman. She said she has come to know Thurmont Davis’s mother, who has visited the store for the past three years to care for his memorial.

“She still comes up here and puts things on it, so it's a very desperate situation for her," the store manager said.

Pasquotank County District Attorney Andrew Womble said his office plans to prosecute the four inmates to the fullest extent of the law.

“This is the most serious matter I’ve ever prosecuted,” Womble said.

More charges are expected in connection with the attempted escape.

Darden's memorial services will be held on Saturday, and Smith's will be on Sunday.