James "Jimmy" Leroy Conley, a 53-year-old Caucasian male from Elkin, North Carolina, passed away on June 13, 2021. Jimmy was born on July 24, 1967, to Dwight Eugene and Cecilia Jean Shortt Conley. He was known for his love of life, dirt track racing, and spending time outdoors and on the river. Jimmy's death was a tragic event that shook the community of Elkin.
The circumstances surrounding Jimmy's death were grim. On the morning of June 13, 2021, his body was discovered outside his residence on L&L Road, Elkin. The initial investigation revealed that Jimmy had died from an apparent gunshot wound. The Wilkes County Sheriff's Department, along with the SBI, Surry County Sheriff's Department, Mount Airy Police Department, and the Carroll County, Va., Sheriff's Department, conducted a thorough investigation into the incident.
Tyler Blake Daughenbaugh, a 22-year-old male from Mount Airy, was arrested and charged with Jimmy's murder. Daughenbaugh was detained in the Wilkes County Jail with no bond allowed. The arrest was made without incident on Powell Hall Lane in Elkin, where Daughenbaugh was found riding a lawn mower for transportation. The motive behind the killing was not disclosed by the authorities.
Daughenbaugh had a lengthy criminal record, including charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, drug and weapon charges, and numerous traffic violations. Jimmy Conley also had a criminal record dating back to 1987, with convictions in both Wilkes and Surry counties for robbery, assault, and various drug and traffic violations.
The case concluded with Daughenbaugh pleading guilty to second-degree murder. This plea was in connection with the shooting death of Jimmy Conley. The sentence brought some closure to the tragic event that had deeply affected Jimmy's family and the Elkin community.
