Pamela Renee Ward, a 57-year-old woman from Morganton, North Carolina, passed away on June 8, 2018. She was born on October 9, 1960, in McDowell County to the late Ralph and Hope Patterson. Pamela was a weaver in the textile industry and a member of Connelly Springs Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her son, Trae Montana Ward. Pamela is survived by her son, Randy Ward, and two nephews, David Kelley and Mitch Patterson.
Pamela Renee Ward's death was part of a tragic
incident that occurred on June 8, 2018, in Burke County, North Carolina. On that day, authorities were called to a home on Enola Road around 7:45 a.m. where they discovered the bodies of three individuals, including Pamela Renee Ward, her son Trae Montana Ward, and 22-year-old Jimmy "Brianna" Stamey. Pamela and Trae were found dead inside the home, while Stamey was found dead in a car outside the residence. A 1-year-old child inside the house was unharmed and taken for medical evaluation.
The person of interest in this triple homicide was identified as 61-year-old Kenneth Douglas Powell, a resident of Morganton. Powell was believed to have dated Pamela Renee Ward for a couple of years, and Trae Ward was her son. One week after the killings, authorities discovered Powell's decomposed body about a mile away from his apartment. A gun was found near his body, and ballistics regarding the weapon were still pending at the time. The investigation into the triple homicide continued, with deputies seeking more information about Powell and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Pamela Renee Ward, Trae Montana Ward, and Jimmy "Brianna" Stamey.
