Jessica Pyatte, a 24-year-old woman from Newton Grove, NC, was tragically murdered on March 10, 2016. She was found shot to death alongside Matt Jones, a 30-year-old man, in Jones' home on Unity Drive in Newton Grove. Pyatte was shot in the head, and due to the severity of her wounds, it took two days to identify her. Authorities had to use fingerprints and Pyatte's distinctive tattoos to establish a positive identification.
Pyatte, who was at Jones' home to braid his hair, leaves behind three daughters, an 8-year-old and 3-year-old twins. They are now staying with relatives. Pyatte's family described her as a loving mother who would do anything for anyone.
The investigation into the murders revealed that Pyatte was beaten and shot seven times, including in the head. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the case. Gerald Paul Jr. was charged with the killings, while Tara Wilson and Jeremy Price were accused of being accessories after the fact. The District Attorney decided not to seek the death penalty for the suspects, a decision that left Pyatte's family struggling with mixed emotions. Pyatte's mother, Michelle, expressed her disappointment and anger at the punishment her daughter's accused killers faced.
In April 2021, Gerald Thomas Paul Jr. pled guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years and 6 months to a maximum of 23 years and 4 months in prison. Jeremy Kyle Price was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to consecutive prison terms of life without parole. Tara Nicole Wilson, who was charged with accessory after the fact, cooperated fully with prosecutors and testified at trial. Due to her full cooperation and the extreme duress and fear she was under immediately after the crimes, the District Attorney's Office dismissed her charges.
The brutal murder of Jessica Pyatte and Matt Jones has left their families devastated and searching for answers. Pyatte's family continues to grapple with the emotional toll of her death, and they hope that the verdicts will bring some measure of justice and closure.
