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Willard Wayne Hathaway

Case from Sharpsburg, NC dated Jul 17, 1997

Victim Details

Willard Wayne Hathaway

Male

White / Caucasian

Sharpsburg

NC

1997-07-17

47

Willard

Wayne Hathaway

07/05/2026

Case Description

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Chief Willard Wayne Hathaway, age 47, was the Chief of Police in Sharpsburg, North Carolina. On July 17, 1997, he responded to a domestic dispute call at a trailer in Weaver's mobile home park. During the incident, he was shot in the head by the suspect, Abner Nicholson, who also killed his wife, Gloria Nicholson, 25, at the scene. Chief Hathaway succumbed to his injuries the following day at Duke Medical Center.

Following the shootings, an extensive manhunt was launched involving over 10 ...
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Links to Additional Sources (6)

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  • Chief Willard Wayne Hathaway (1950-1997) - Find a Grave Memorial
  • Chief Willard Wayne Hathaway (1950-1997) - Mémorial Find a Grave
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    Forum Posts (3)

    I just read about the tragic incident involving Chief Willard Wayne Hathaway. It's devastating to th... ...Read More
    06/20/2024
    I can't stop thinking about the sheer dedication of Chief Hathaway. To serve as Chief of Police for ... ...Read More
    07/26/2023
    I’ve been thinking a lot about how law enforcement families are affected by tragedies like the one... ...Read More
    06/05/2023
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