Matt Jones, a 30-year-old male from Newton Grove, NC, was tragically found shot to death in his home on Unity Drive on March 10, 2016. The incident also claimed the life of Jessica Pyatte, a 24-year-old woman who was at Jones' residence to braid his hair. Pyatte was shot in the head, and due to the severity of her wounds, it took two days to identify her using fingerprints and distinctive tattoos. Pyatte, who was not a professional stylist, often braided, colored, and cut hair for many people.
She left behind three daughters, an 8-year-old and 3-year-old twins, who are now staying with relatives. Jones' 2-year-old son was found in the home unharmed and is now staying with family members.
The investigation into the double homicide revealed that two different weapons were used in the fatal shootings. Pyatte was shot seven times, while Jones died from gunshot wounds to the head. The authorities have been investigating the murders as a double homicide, but no motive has been released. The families of both victims have been struggling to understand why someone would commit such a heinous act.
In August 2022, Jeremy Kyle Price, a man from Kenly, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 2016 double homicide. A Johnston County Jury found Price guilty of two counts of first-degree murder after a week-long trial. Superior Court Judge William D. Wolfe sentenced Price to consecutive prison terms of life without parole. Assistant District Attorney Paul Jackson expressed satisfaction with the verdicts and appreciated the jurors' thoughtful hard work in the case. He also thanked the Johnston County Sheriff's Office for their thorough and professional investigation, which made the verdicts possible.
In April 2021, a co-defendant, Gerald Thomas Paul Jr. of Erwin, pled guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years and 6 months to a maximum of 23 years and 4 months in prison. A third person, Tara Nicole Wilson of Dunn, had been charged with accessory after the fact for withholding information from law enforcement. Wilson testified at trial and cooperated fully with prosecutors. 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 families of both victims continue to seek justice and closure for the tragic loss of their loved ones. The community remains hopeful that the verdicts will bring some measure of peace to those affected by this senseless act of violence.
