On April 23, 2023, 30-year-old James Edward Schultheis III was found fatally shot near his residence on Jordan Avenue in Snow Hill, North Carolina. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. An autopsy later revealed that Schultheis had sustained six gunshot wounds to the torso.
In the days following the incident, the Snow Hill Police Department, with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, launched a homicide investigation.
Their efforts led to the arrest of Schultheis's fiancée, 29-year-old Tameka Best of Ayden, North Carolina. She was taken into custody on April 30, 2024, in Greenville. Best was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Schultheis's death and was scheduled to make her first court appearance on May 3, 2024.
Schultheis was a lifelong resident of Pitt County, known for his work in landscaping and construction. He was remembered as a loving son, brother, uncle, fiancé, and stepfather who enjoyed fishing and watching his nephews play sports. His memorial service was held on May 5, 2023, at Farmer Funeral Chapel in Ayden.
The arrest of Best, who was reportedly Schultheis's fiancée, added a complex layer to the case, leaving the community seeking answers about the circumstances leading to the tragedy. As of the latest available information, the investigation was ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine the events surrounding Schultheis's death.
