On November 7, 2024, Carolyn Powell, aged 70, and her husband, Michael Powell, aged 72, were tragically found deceased outside their home near Gaston, North Carolina. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head, inflicted at point-blank range with a shotgun.
Authorities quickly identified the suspect as 35-year-old Ryvaries Butcher, a close neighbor and relative of the Powells. Investigators allege that Butcher shot the couple before stealing their truck and fleeing the scene.
The stolen vehicle was later located in a hotel parking lot in Roanoke Rapids. Butcher was apprehended without incident and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony larceny of a motor vehicle.
The motive behind these heinous acts remains unclear. Community members and family are left in shock, mourning the loss of two individuals described as pillars of their community. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to understand the circumstances leading to this tragic event.
