Richard Kelly Akers, a 63-year-old man from Sylva, North Carolina, tragically died on July 29, 2019. His death was the result of a murder-suicide committed by his son, Richard Travis Akers, who was 38 years old. The incident occurred at their home on Walter Ashe Road in Jackson County. Deputies were called to the residence for a welfare check and discovered both men dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
The investigation revealed that Richard Travis Akers shot his father before taking his own life.
There were no other suspects involved in the case, as it was determined to be a murder-suicide. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office, along with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, responded to the scene and secured it for further investigation. The case did not lead to any litigations or additional law cases, as the perpetrator was deceased.
Richard Kelly Akers was known to be a loving family man who worked in various service jobs and enjoyed interacting with people. His obituary described him as a devoted husband to Melissa Akers and a loving son to his late parents, Bill Akers and Della Watts. The tragic event left the family and community in mourning, as they remembered Richard Kelly Akers for his kind and caring nature.
