Charlene Jones Leake, a 43-year-old African American woman from Wilson, North Carolina, was found dead on February 20, 2012, in a house located on the outskirts of Wilson, which had an Elm City postal address. The house was also the residence of 61-year-old John Henry Little, who was found dead alongside her. The sheriff's department classified the incident as a double homicide, and the scene was described as "grisly".
The investigation revealed that Charlene Jones Leake and John Henry Little were acquaintances. The authorities were alerted to the situation when someone reported a missing person around noon on the day of the discovery. Upon arrival, officials found the bodies in a front room of the house.
The sheriff's department identified 45-year-old Verna Lee Farmer, also from Wilson, as a suspect in the double homicide. Farmer was subsequently charged with the murders of Charlene Jones Leake and John Henry Little. The motive behind the killings and further details about the case were not disclosed by the authorities.
The community was shocked by the incident, as it was considered unusual for the area. Neighbor Johnny Batchelor commented on the strangeness of the circumstances, noting that while there was crime in the broader area, such incidents were rare in their specific neighborhood.
