D.P. Black, a 91-year-old White man, and his wife, Mary Lou Black, 86, were beloved figures in their Aberdeen, North Carolina community. Known as a successful businessman and property owner, D.P. was described by a longtime friend as a "good man" and a "family man." Mary Lou was remembered as a "sweet, wonderful lady." The couple was known for their generosity and devotion to Bethesda Presbyterian Church, where their pastor said they were "pillars" of the congregation and "like parents" to him.
They loved their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On the evening of July 9, 2021, a Moore County Sheriff's deputy went to the Blacks' home on Roseland Road to conduct a welfare check. An employee had become concerned and called authorities when the couple failed to pick them up earlier that day. Just before 6 p.m., the deputy arrived to a tragic scene. D.P. Black was found deceased on the front porch, and Mary Lou Black was found dead inside the house. An extensive investigation later revealed that D.P. had been killed with a blunt object, while Mary Lou had been shot inside the master bedroom.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office launched a double homicide investigation, with Sheriff Ronnie Fields calling the crime a "cowardly act." Investigators from multiple agencies, including the State Bureau of Investigation, joined the case. Authorities offered a $2,000 reward for information and soon determined that the motive for the killings was robbery. The perpetrator had stolen money, jewelry, a gun, and other personal items from the home.
Less than a week after the murders, on July 13, 2021, authorities arrested two local men: Tony Chad Patterson, 42, of Aberdeen, and Tim Cooper, 45, of Carthage. Patterson was a former laborer for D.P. Black. Both men were charged with two counts of murder and held without bond. According to the investigation, Cooper remained in a car while Patterson went to the Blacks' home, committed the murders, and stole the items, which the two men later used to buy drugs.
On July 24, 2024, Tony Patterson pleaded guilty to the murders. The district attorney explained that after nearly three years of discussions, the Black family had asked that the state not seek the death penalty. The request was based on their religious and moral beliefs and a desire to avoid the emotional strain of a protracted trial and appeals. Respecting the family's wishes, the court sentenced Patterson to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. As of July 2024, Patterson was beginning his sentence.
