Paul Shane Pearce, a 28-year-old male from Wilson, North Carolina, was tragically found dead on December 24, 2016. He was one of four victims in a quadruple homicide that occurred on Christmas Eve. The other victims were his mother, Tammy Lynette Pearce, 54; her boyfriend, Selby Gene Outland, 47; and Paul Pearce's fiancée, Dominique Nicole Privette, 23. The bodies were discovered inside their home on Banks Lane East in Wilson by an elderly family member around 1 p.m.
on Christmas Eve.
The victims were found in different rooms of the house, all wearing pajamas. Paul Shane Pearce was found lying face up on the kitchen floor with a gunshot wound to the back of his neck. Dominique Privette was found lying on a mattress in the living room, having been shot nine times in her neck, back, chest, and arms. Tammy Pearce was found in the bedroom with gunshot wounds to her head and clavicle, while Selby Outland was found behind the bathroom door with gunshot wounds to his head and right arm.
The investigation revealed that the front door of the house had been kicked in, and 9mm and .38-caliber cartridge casings were found at the scene, suggesting the involvement of at least two shooters. Witnesses in the neighborhood reported hearing gunshots around 1 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
In August 2017, Dereck Eugene Harris was charged with the murders. However, the charges were dropped in February 2020 due to uncooperative witnesses and circumstantial evidence. Prosecutors stated that the murders were believed to be tied to a drug debt between Harris and one of the victims. Despite the charges being dropped, the case remains unsolved, and the families of the victims continue to seek justice.
The quadruple homicide has left a lasting impact on the community, with family members and friends mourning the loss of their loved ones. Lois Pearce, the mother of Tammy Pearce and grandmother of Paul Shane Pearce, discovered the bodies and has been vocal about her desire for the case to be solved. The Wilson County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case, and a reward of up to $15,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspect responsible for the crime.
