Home, Sweet Home
Brunswick County Extension Homemakers
Clubs honor their own in annual tradition.
Pagen-B.
Homecoming Time
West Brunswick's Trojans face
the power-running West
Columbus Vikings. Page 3-D
Changes At UCB
Whiteville bank's streamlining said not likely
to have much effect on its Brunswick
County operations. Page 8-A
THE ,>Dm"",yiCK#BEACON
Thirty-Second Year, Number 51 ? m Carolina, Thursday, October 20, 1994 50? Per Copy 44 Pages, 4 Sections, Plus Inserts
Everyone Wins
Lofton James (left) of ShalUttte shares the honor with hi\ 1 7-month-old stm l>anu\ after winning the V.( Oyster Shucking ( hampionship
Saturday. James won a plaque, a $100 check and an all-expense-patd trip to compete in the natu>nal championship in Maryland next year.
Lee Tarlton (right) of Maxton h-oj a winner Ux>, slurping down a bucket of steamed oysters along with the thousands of visitors who at
tended the X.C. Oyster Festival in Seaside last weekend.
Ninth Suspect Pleads Guilty, Gets Life
Sentence In 'Gang-Style' Davis Killing
BY ERIC CARLSON
The sccond of three "major participants" to be
tried in the gang-style murder of Charles Wayne
"Bulch" Davis pleaded guilty to second-degree
murder Monday and was sentenced to life in
prison.
Terrance L^Uuinn Jones, 19, was charged with
first-degree murder and numerous other felonies
for his role in the killing of Davis, 37, who was
fatally shot, beaten and slashed with a machete in
the driveway of his Bolivia home last Nov 2X.
The other charges against Jones were dropped
as part of a plea bargain
Jones was one of 1(1 young people who piled
into two cars and drove to Davis's trailer "to
teach him a lesson" after an altercation between
Davis and co-defendant Frank lxnail Ford earlier
that day. Jones and another man. Byron Henry
Knowles, were accused of helping Ford drag
Davis out of his car moments before the murder.
Ford last month admitted shooting Davis in the
back and pleaded guilty to second degree murder
and conspiracy. He was sentenced to life plus 20
years in prison. Seven other young people de
scribed by prosecutors as "minor players" in the
murder pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and
received suspended sentences.
Investigators say that while Davis lay dying
from the gunshot wound. Jones kicked him sever
al times, then grabbed the back of Davis's head
and beat his face into the ground The third mur
der suspect, Byron Henry Knowles, is accused of
hitting Davis in the face w ith a machete
In a brief description of the events leading to
Davis's death. Assistant District Attorney Lee
Bollinger on Monday called it "a case of young
people drinking and looking for somebody to
hurt."
Bollinger said the group's initial intention was
to "roll up" on another man. Joey Brown, who
had allegedly threatened Ford The plan was
changed on the way to Brown's house, when they
saw Davis driving on Midway Koad in the oppo
site direction
When the gang arrived at Davis's trailer on
Albright Koad, Ford told them, "I don't want
Butch I want the white dude," Bollinger said
"How their minds got changed, I'm not sure."
Referring to his client as "Ouinn," defense at
torney Steve Yount called Jones a "polite young
man" and said the killing was "totally out of char
acter" for him. He suggested that Jones was
caught up in a "mob mentality" enhanced by a
"combination of alcohol and marijuana lhat led to
his action "
Drevsed in a brightly colored shirt and black
pants. Jones stood to face Superior Court Judge
Gregory Weeks for sentencing
"We've got one young man who is dead and a
number of other, who arc convicted felons,"
Weeks said "Now you. at 14, are looking at a life
sentence."
Jones will be eligible for parole in about 12
years Bollinger called the negotiated sentence a
"good plea, based on the tact that the other dcten
dant got life plus 20 years It reflects that he was a
major participant, even though he wasn't armed "
Charges dismissed in the plea bargain included
conspiracy to commit murder, assault with a
deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting sen
ous injury, conspiracy to commit assault with a
deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting seri
ous injury, first -degree kidnapping, conspiracy to
commit kidnapping and robbery w it h a dangerous
weapon Jones was also accused of taking Davis's
wallet after the murder
Knowles. the final suspect in the case, remains
in the Bahamas. So far. he has refused to return to
the U.S. voluntarily Extradition proceedings are
likely to begin soon
Attorney Charges
'Smear Campaign'
In Sheriff's Race,
Says Lawsuits Likely
BY ERIC CARUSON
A lawyer representing Demo
cratic sheriff candidate Ronald Mew
ctt said Tuesday that Republican
sheriff candidate James Brown was
among those circulating copies of an
X rated videotape and a libelous let
ter accusing Hewett of allowing stu
dents to watch pornography in a po
hce training class.
Hewett has denied the allegations,
calling them "totally false" and "ob
viouslv politically motivated." He
said he was at home during a lunch
break in his Basic l^iw Enforcement
clavs.it Brunswick Community Col
lege on Nov 21. 1W2 when the in
cident is alleged to have occurred
Hewett 's. attorney Roy Trest of
Shallotte. said defamation lawsuits
will be filed against ?everyone par
ticipating in w hat he called a "smear
campaign" against Hewett
Trest said Ix-land Police Officer
James Wallace Mclx-an has sworn a
deposition saying that Brown hand
delivered the letter "along with
bumper stickers and othet Brown
materials" to him on Oct 10
Witnesses in Ash also say Brown
"walked into a place of business and
hand delivered" a videotaped ex
cerpt of the X-rated movie to a
woman, along with some of his
campaign literature, according to
Trest
The allegedly libelous letter, ad
dressed to "the people of Brunswick
County." is a notarized statement bv
three of llewett's former Basic I.aw
Inforcement students It claims
Hewett showed an "X-ratcd porno
graphic" movie during class time
Repeated efforts to reach Brown
were unsuccessful Tuesday, includ
ing a mevsage left with his mother
explaining that he had been impli
cated in the circulation of the letter
and offering him a chance to reply
Nor was there a response to tele
phone messages left for Republican
Party Chairman Shirley Babson at
her home and at party headquarters.
Babson has been quoted elsewhere
as having characterized the letter's
distribution as "mud slinging."
Officials at Brunswick Commu
nity College say their investigation
ot the allegations determined the
charges in the letter to be unfound
ed Instructor evaluation forms filled
out by students after the class
(liaised Hewcit s pc rfoi mancc and
made no reference to the alleged in
cident
Numerous copies of the letter
have been mailed unsolicited and
with no return address to people
throughout Brunswick County. Oth
ers have been left at businevses for
public inspection. Trest said copies
ot the tetter were delivered ? aiong
with what is believed to be an ex
cerpt from the film ? to Hewett's
minister and to School Superinten
dent Ralph Johnston.
Trest said he has two copies of the
tape and a number of the letters in
his office, w hich were forwarded to
him by the recipients. Johnston has
also agreed to turn over the tape he
received. Trest said.
"I have confirmed reports that on
two occasions. Mr Brown hand de
livered copies of these defamatory
letters to individuals along with
bumper stickers and other Brown
materials." Trest said The attorney
said he was aware of only one case
in which Brown also delivered a
copy of the tape
I "he letter claims the incident oc
curred on the last day of Basic Law
I Enforcement Training at the college.
It savs that when ihe class broke for
lunch, there was a discussion of
renting v ideotapes to view that after
noon.
"Suzanne Pearson. Anthony Key
and l^iura Crane walked toward
Suzanne's car to leave." the letter
reads. "Ll Ronald E. Hewett ap
proached the students and made a
gesture in the shape of an 'X' using
(See LAWSUITS, Page 2-A)
Inside...
Birthdays 2B
Business News.. ..7-8D
Calendar ? 8B
Church News 11A
Classified ................. I - 1 (K '
Crime Report 12C
Court Docket . ? 11C
Fishing .4D
Coif.. ............................. .2D
Obituaries ? 10A
Opinion 4-5A
People In The News .....9B
Plant Doctor 5B
Television 6-7B
VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTFR
Keeler Takes Plea Arrangement, Gets 1 5 Years In Wife's Death
BY ERIC CARLSON
Timothy James Keeler may spend less lime in prison
than he did hiding from police after shooting his wife in
the head, burying her body, digging it up and burying it
again.
Standing silently in his orange jail house jump suit
Monday, Keeler, 34, showed no emotion and offered no
apologies as Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks read
the plea bargain agreement reached by defense and pros
ecution attorneys.
The arrangement called for Keeler to plead guilty to
voluntary manslaughter. In exchange, he received a 15
year sentence for killing 29-year-old Rhonda Diane
Keeler at their home in Ash three years ago.
Under current N.C. Department of Corrections release
policies, Keeler will be eligible for parole in 18 months.
Before accepting the arrangement. Judge Weeks ques
tioned Assistant District Attorney Lee Bollinger about
the plea bargain, noting that District Court Judge Jerry
Jolly last month found sufficient evidence to try Keeler
on a charge of second-degree murder.
That was before Keeler agreed to lead authorities to
the shallow grave on Simmons Road where Mrs.
Keeler 's remains were buried. Prior to that time, Keeler
insisted his wife ran off and left him sitting at a bar in
Charlotte after the two had an argument in August 1991.
A short time later relatives first reported Mrs. Keeler
missing. As investigators began to suspect her husband
of foul play, Timothy Keeler left Brunswick County or.
the day before he was supposed to take a lie detector
test. Warrants for his arrest on a murder charge were is
sued after a piece of Mrs. Keeler's fingei and locks of
her hair were found buried behind the couple's home on
Milligan Road.
TIMOTHY KEELER, flanked by prosecutor Lee Bollinger (left) and Defense Attorney Roy Trest,
awaits sentencing Monday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his wife
three years ago.
Her b<?dy wasn't found at that time, despite a massive
search of the Ash area by hundreds of law enforcement
officers and volunteers. Keeler was finally apprehended
last month at a routine traffic stop outside Charlotte.
Jailed on a charge of first-degree murder, Keeler
asked his lawyer Roy Trest to negotiate a plea bargain in
exchange for information about the whereabouts of Mrs.
Keeler. Finally, on Sept. 28, Brunswick County sheriff's
detectives were led to the spot where Keeler told them
his wife was buried. An autopsy revealed that Mrs.
Keeler died of a gunshot wound to the head, probably
from a ,22-caliber weapon.
In a brief description of prosecution evidence
Monday, Bollinger told Judge Weeks that without Kee
Icr's cooperation, the slate would have had little more
than circumstantial evidence to present at trial.
Investigators had no body, no murder weapon, no ballis
tics evidence, no eyewitnesses, no crime scene and no
information regarding her cause of death.
There would have been testimony suggesting that the
Keelers "had a history of domestic problems, many of
which were related to the use of alcohol, " Bollinger
said.
Several of the Keelers' neighbors would have testified
that they heard two gunshots at the home on the day that
Mrs. Keeler was last seen alive, Bollinger said. Others
were prepared to say that Keeler borrowed a shovel the
next morning, saying he needed to bury a dead cat.
Hard evidence of murder included a piece of finger
and some female hair found buried near the Keeler
home. The fingernail was painted with polish matching
a type found inside the residence. There were also
"blood spatters" discovered in the house, Bollinger said.
Investigators believe Keeler murdered his wife inside
the house and buried her in a nearby swamp. They feel
the fingernail and hair were left behind when Keeler dug
the corpse up, borrowed a pickup truck and moved the
body to the woods beside a farm field on Simmons
Road.
Keeler has not made a statement to police about his
wife's killing. Trest said his client "actively sought the
piea arrangement" in an effort to dispel "rumors about
chopped up bodies" that had circulated since the first
grave was found. Trest said Keeler felt he had been
"portrayed as some sort of monster" in publicity sur
rounding the three-year-old case.