On April 6, 2023, deputies from the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Racine Drive in Waco, North Carolina, following a report of an unresponsive individual. Upon arrival, they discovered 76-year-old Clifford Wade Ward lying outside his home with a metal object protruding from the back of his head. Initial statements from Ward's nephew, 53-year-old David Eric Ward, suggested that his uncle, known to be prone to falls, had accidentally fallen onto the object, leading
to his death.
However, a subsequent examination by the State Medical Examiner's Office revealed that Clifford Ward had sustained a gunshot wound to the back of the head, with the metal object deliberately placed to conceal the injury. Further investigation uncovered that, on the day of his uncle's death, David Ward had deposited a substantial check from Clifford's account into his own.
After a five-month investigation, authorities arrested David Ward on September 28, 2023, charging him with first-degree murder and obtaining property by false pretense. He is currently held without bond at the Cleveland County Detention Center.
Clifford Wade Ward was a respected member of the Waco community, known for his dedication to farming and his love for hunting. Born on January 17, 1947, in Cleveland County, he was a 1965 graduate of Waco High School and an active member of the USDA and the Cleveland County Livestock Association. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Frances Louise Whitesides Ward. Survivors include his brothers, Dean and Darrell Ward, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends. A graveside service was held on April 11, 2023, at Capernaum Cemetery, officiated by Rev. Jerry Lail.
The arrest of David Ward has left the community in shock, grappling with the tragic loss of Clifford and the unsettling circumstances surrounding his death. As legal proceedings continue, the community remains united in seeking justice for Clifford Ward.
