On December 29, 2023, at approximately 9:40 p.m., the Wayne County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported breaking and entering at a residence located at 877 Big Daddys Road in northern Wayne County, near Pikeville, North Carolina. The 911 caller reported finding a male acquaintance unresponsive and bleeding inside the home.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered 39-year-old Robert Lee Mitchell deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency Medical Services examined Mitchell at the scene and pronounced him dead. His body was subsequently transported to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Investigators have clarified that Mitchell was not the individual who broke into the home. As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mitchell's death and is seeking assistance from the public. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Frank Sauls at 919-580-4066 or Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255.
Mitchell's death has left a void in the lives of his family and friends. He is survived by his mother, Mary Evans; his daughter, Destiny Mitchell; and his close friend, Todd Garris. Funeral services were arranged by Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home, with visitation held on January 11, 2024, and a graveside service on January 12, 2024, at Woodland Friends Cemetery in Dudley, North Carolina.
