On November 13, 2023, in Salisbury, North Carolina, 51-year-old Melissa Kincaid Zickafoose was found deceased alongside her husband, 54-year-old Joseph Benjamin Zickafoose, in what authorities suspect to be a murder-suicide. The Rowan County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic dispute call at their residence on Old Concord Road around 6:30 p.m. A concerned witness reported that the couple had entered a detached garage on the property and failed to respond to attempts to communicate.
Deputies forced entry into the locked garage and discovered both individuals dead from gunshot wounds.
Melissa was a dedicated healthcare professional with 29 years of experience, most recently employed by Centerwell. She was actively involved with the First Baptist Church of China Grove and was known for her fun, loving, and caring nature. She is survived by her two sons, Reid and Riley, and her parents, Alvin and Thelma Kincaid. Melissa was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph.
The investigation into the incident remains open, pending a complete review of evidence recovered from the scene and the findings of the medical examiner. As of now, no additional details have been released by the authorities.
