On February 10, 2023, 41-year-old Brandi Deal was found deceased in her home on Clark Loop in Morganton, North Carolina. Initially responding to a cardiac arrest call, Burke County Sheriff's deputies and EMS personnel discovered Deal had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Tragically, Deal was pregnant and scheduled to give birth the following day.
The Burke County Sheriff's Office promptly initiated a homicide investigation.
By February 16, 2023, two suspects were arrested: 30-year-old Dylan James Rogers and 50-year-old Tammy Duckworth Boone, both residents of Morganton. They were charged with felony unspecified murder and held without bond in the Burke County Jail.
Subsequent reports revealed that Deal's boyfriend, Richard Buff, had recently performed automotive work for Boone but had not received full payment. Buff stated he was away from the residence at the time of the shooting. The exact motive behind the homicide remains unclear, and authorities have not provided further details.
In March 2023, a Burke County grand jury indicted Rogers and Boone for the murders of Deal and her unborn child. Both suspects maintained their innocence, with Rogers claiming he was asleep during the incident. As of the latest available information, both individuals were awaiting trial, and the investigation was ongoing.
