Sheriff: Ring driving force drugs, money
By Kathi Keys
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
ASHEBORO - An Asheboro resident in jail on a variety of charges and a
second Asheboro man confined in connection with a double homicide are being
called "ringleaders" of a local crime ring uncovered during the
past week.
Randolph County Sheriff Litchard Hurley believes the two men, both in
their early 20s, are the top figures in a group which is being linked to
last Tuesday's double homicide near Randleman, along with an attempted murder
and many other recent crime-related occurrences.
He says the driving force has been "drugs and money."
The two men have been identified as George Thomas Wilkerson, 23, of 446-B
Mt. Cross St., Asheboro, and William Roy Davis, 20, of 134 W. Presnell St.,
Asheboro.
Wilkerson has been charged, along with a 21-year-old Asheboro resident,
with first degree murder, first degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous
weapon in connection with the homicides during the home invasion in which
two teens died Jan. 11.
Hurley says authorities have information linking weapons, found at the
scene of the double homicide, to Davis.
Davis has been charged with multiple offenses, ranging from traffic citations
to aiding and abetting attempted murder to felony drug charges.
Others authorities say are connected to the crime ring range in age from
17 to 21 and include Davis' wife and her brother.
Hurley talked about the "ringleaders" at a Saturday night press
conference held to release details on the latest developments arising from
a search of the Davis residence and vehicles stopped after leaving the West
Presnell Street, Asheboro, house.
About the earlier double homicide, Hurley said, "Wilkerson wanted
to make a name for himself. He set $30 worth of drugs out."
Hurley said that the drugs led to an altercation during which the two
teens were killed after Wilkerson and another man allegedly forced their
way into the Adams Farm Road residence in the home invasion.
Hurley said that Wilkerson could "possibly be connected to two more
home invasions" during which rubber gloves were used and phone lines
were cut by pliers. "It was a show of power ... showing 'we're in the
drug business and we'll not stand for this.' "
The sheriff also said that this case is among the biggest he's encountered
in his many years in law enforcement. It has involved a double homicide
and drugs, along with "weapons, the potential for bombmaking and assault-type
rifles."
Davis has been charged with aiding and abetting attempted murder in connection
with a May 29, 2004, machete attack on a woman found on N.C. 134, south
of Asheboro.
Another man is in custody in connection with the case in which a young
woman "had some fingers cut off," stated Lt. Gary Davis Saturday
night. "She was airlifted to Chapel Hill (UNC Hospitals) and she did
make it."
William Roy Davis is also a suspect in the burning of a truck several
months ago. Hurley said tools stolen from the truck have been linked to
Davis.
The latest charges against Davis stem from a search of his residence
which contained explosives, stolen property and an indoor marijuana-growing
operation.
Items found in the house also provide a link to break-ins at a music
store and gun store. Officers found a detailed map of the gun store, later
identified as Treasure World in Asheboro, where 12 weapons were taken during
a recent break-in. One of the weapons confiscated during the past week was
confirmed Saturday night as taken from the Asheboro business.
Hurley had high praise for the work his office has done during the past
week since the double homicide was discovered. He credits the patrol division
with the quick apprehension of the two suspects in that case and investigators
with establishing a link to the drug, weapons and stolen property ring uncovered
Friday.
"They've been working day and night with very little sleep. This
has been the toughest and busiest week we've had in a long time."
He also noted, "Hopefully, we're sending the message: We're not
going to put up with this."
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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