Catawba man likely to die in prison after convicted of killing wife, son

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A 64-year-old Catawba man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison following his conviction on Monday for two counts of second-degree murder, the district attorney’s office announced.

Warren Lee Raymond Sr. was sentenced to 40-50 years in prison after pleading guilty to the Sept. 13, 2018, deaths of his 55-year-old wife, Barbara Parker Raymond, and 30-year-old son, Warren Lee Raymond Jr.

Warren Lee Raymond Jr. had autism.

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“This is a horrible and tragic situation that appears to have been brought on by a gambling addiction,” District Attorney Scott Reilly said in a news release. “I feel confident that as a result of this sentence, the defendant will spend the rest of his natural life in prison.”

On the day of the murders, Raymond Sr. went to his neighbor’s home with blood on his hands asking that he call 911. Mark Herbert called 911 and when he returned to his front door, Raymond was gone.

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Herbert went to the home where Raymond Sr. and his family lived with his sister-in-law and her husband and found Barbara Raymond and Raymond Jr. dead.

Officers arrived and found Barbara Raymond on the floor of the living room with a knife in her abdomen and her husband cradling her. Warren Raymond Jr. died in the garage from apparent head trauma. A sledgehammer and crowbar were found near his body.

Autopsy reports showed that Barbara Raymond died from multiple stab wounds. Raymond Jr. suffered multiple blunt force and sharp-force injuries to the neck and head that led to his death. His finger was amputated, as well.

Prosecutors said Raymond Sr. was addicted to gambling and would spend hours playing video poker at a local convenience store. He used his disability payments to buy lottery tickets.

He also used up a sizable portion of money from the couple’s joint account, the D.A.’s office said.

The case was investigated by Catawba Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

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