3 suspects charged after mayor, wife of NC town found dead at home

LEGGETT, N.C. — North Carolina authorities said they have charged three suspects involved in the shooting deaths of the mayor of a tiny town and his wife, who were found dead at their home.

Edgecombe County Sheriff Cleveland Atkinson said at a news conference that 25-year-old Keith Williams of Tarboro was being held on a first-degree murder charge.

A sheriff's spokesman said he didn't know whether Williams has an attorney, and a phone listing for the suspect could not be found.

Edgecombe County Deputies said Saturday evening they also arrested and charged two additional suspects in the case.

Deputies charged Dakeithia Andrews with conspiracy of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Mitchell Brinson was charged with first degree murder.

News outlets report the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office withheld the identities of the victims found Thursday, but Leggett Town Commissioner Teresa Summerlin identified them as Mayor Gary Skelton and Jackie Dawn Skelton.

[Police arrest son accused of beating elderly father to death]

Summerlin says Jackie Skelton was an oncology nurse at Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, and didn't show up to work Thursday. Her coworkers requested a welfare check, which led to the discovery of the bodies.

Gary Skelton was a banker at BB&T in Rocky Mount until retirement. He was in his second term as mayor of the eastern North Carolina town with a population of around five dozen.

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Associated Press