Trae Montana Ward, a 23-year-old male from Morganton, North Carolina, tragically passed away on June 8, 2018. Trae was born on June 1, 1995, in Burke County, North Carolina. He was a member of the Connelly Springs Freewill Baptist Church and worked at Saft in Valdese. Trae was preceded in death by his mother, Pamela Renee Ward, and his girlfriend, Brianna Stamey.
He is survived by his son, Carson Stamey, his father, Tracy Ward, his brother, Randy Ward, and his paternal grandparents, Terry and Nina Ward.
On the day of his death, Trae Ward, along with his mother, Pamela Renee Ward, and his girlfriend, Brianna Stamey, were found dead in a home in Burke County, North Carolina. The authorities were called to the scene on Enola Road around 7:45 a.m. on June 8, 2018. The victims were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds. Brianna Stamey, a 22-year-old female, was found dead in a car outside the residence, while Pamela Renee Ward, a 57-year-old female, and Trae Ward were found dead inside the home. A 1-year-old child was found unharmed inside the house and was taken for medical evaluation.
Kenneth Douglas Powell, a 61-year-old male from Morganton, was named as a person of interest in the case. Powell had dated Pamela Renee Ward for a couple of years, and Trae Ward was her son. A 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 evidence regarding the weapon was still pending at the time. The investigation into the triple homicide raised many questions, and the authorities did not release many details about the case.
