Casey Robert Orr, a 35-year-old white male, passed away on October 20, 2018, in Newport, North Carolina. Orr was born on June 19, 1983, in Springfield, Missouri, and later moved to Morehead City, North Carolina. He was known for his love of sports, particularly soccer and football, and his talents as a creative cook and artist. Orr worked in construction for Simmons, building homes, and was remembered for his generosity and love for animals, especially his dog Diesel.
On the evening of
October 20, 2018, Orr was involved in a fatal altercation with James William Durner, a 44-year-old white male, at the Hostess House Hotel in Newport. The two men were renting rooms at the hotel when an argument escalated, leading to Durner shooting Orr with a 9mm handgun. According to medical testimony, Orr was shot at close range, with the fatal shot penetrating his heart and exiting his lower back.
Following the incident, Durner claimed self-defense, but the jury rejected this claim. After a four-day trial in Carteret County Superior Court, Durner was found guilty of second-degree murder on September 2, 2021. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before rendering the guilty verdict. Durner was sentenced to a maximum of 11 years and 10 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the Newport Police Department, with crime scene assistance from the Carteret County Sheriff's Office. Assistant District Attorney David L. Spence prosecuted the case, assisted by legal assistant Michelle D. Gillikin and Assistant District Attorney Ashley N. Eatmon.
