Christopher Tony Dial, a 23-year-old male of Robeson County, North Carolina, tragically died on March 14, 2006. Dial was a construction worker who lived in a mobile home at 690 Ozieley Drive in Lumberton. His death was discovered after a fire engulfed his home, which took firefighters about 20 minutes to extinguish. Only the walls of the mobile home were left standing when Dial's body was found.
Authorities determined that Dial had been shot four times before the fire was set to cover up
the crime. The investigation led to the arrest of Pattie Faye Hunt, a 30-year-old woman from Fairmont, who was charged with first-degree murder and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Hunt had a history of violent behavior, including a previous conviction for a failed murder-for-hire scheme. She was held without bond in the Robeson County jail.
The case against Hunt was significant, as it involved not only the murder of Dial but also the attempted cover-up through arson. The investigation revealed that Hunt had shot Dial and then set his mobile home on fire to destroy evidence. The neighbor who reported the fire played a crucial role in the discovery of the crime.
The legal proceedings against Hunt were complex, given her prior criminal history and the severity of the charges. The court records showed that Hunt had been convicted in 1998 of paying someone to kill Murial Chavis, who had been dating Hunt's former boyfriend. She served three to five years in prison for that crime and was released in November 2001. In 1996, she was also charged with second-degree arson for allegedly setting fire to Chavis' home, although those charges were eventually dismissed.
The tragic death of Christopher Tony Dial and the subsequent arrest of Pattie Faye Hunt highlighted the serious issue of domestic violence and the lengths to which some individuals might go to cover up their crimes. The case also underscored the importance of community vigilance and the role of law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting such heinous acts.
In summary, Christopher Tony Dial, a young construction worker, was murdered by Pattie Faye Hunt, who then attempted to conceal the crime by setting his mobile home on fire. Hunt was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The case brought to light Hunt's violent past and the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving such crimes.
