Burke County: Multiple homicides in the same week unusual

Unfortunately, the discovery of the deceased couple found in Glen Alpine were only two of the five bodies to turn up in that same week.

According to the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the other cases are unrelated.

Sheriff Banks Hinceman said that there were only five homicides in Burke County for all of 2025. This year, there have already been four, with a potential fifth under investigation.

“To have all that come to light in one week’s time — I can’t remember a time we’ve had that many at (once),” Hinceman said.

“When you get situations like this, we pull all of our investigative divisions — both our narcotics and general detectives — they all come together,” he continued. “They put down things that can wait and it’s like a ‘ring-the-bell.’ Everybody works on these cases.”

Hinceman said the arrests happened swiftly because of the assistance of residents and other law enforcement agencies such as the Morganton Department of Public Safety (MDPS), the SBI, and even the Myrtle Beach Police Department — although he couldn’t confirm the details on the Myrtle Beach assistance as a precaution to not affect the court case.

Hinceman explained that some residents even invited deputies into their homes in the middle of the night to view security footage — sometimes while still in their pajamas.

He also pointed out that Flock cameras helped to generate leads in the identification of two suspects across the investigations, but was hesitant to identify which cases for the same precautionary reason.

ARGUMENT TURNS DEADLY

On July 25, the BCSO responded to a call on River Rock Road in Hickory. The caller reported that there was a fight, and she believed someone had been shot.

Upon arrival, officers found Kendall Lorian Lineberger, 30, with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite deputies’ attempts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following the investigation, Kenneth Lee Potter, 40, of Hickory, was taken into custody on a felony murder charge.

The court appointed Cynthia Goelling-Phillips as his attorney on Monday, July 27, and the court denied his bond.

FOUR ARRESTED AFTER SHOOTING

Around 1 a.m. on July 26, MDPS officers responded to the sounds of multiple gunshots ringing out from near West Union Street in Morganton.

Upon arrival, officers located James Henry lying face-down in the road. Despite attempts by officers and Burke County EMS to save the man’s life, he died.

Following several hours of investigation with the SBI, MDPS arrested four people:

• Ke’von Blake Mack, 18, of Morganton, charged with felony first-degree murder
• Braxton Garland Collins, 19, of Morganton, charged with felony obstruction of justice and misdemeanor discharging a firearm in the city — when he fired at the victim’s feet, according to court documents
• Justice Grant Raab, 20, of Morganton, charged with felony obstruction of justice
• Ayanna Nichole Parridgen, 19, of Hickory, charged with felony obstruction of justice

All four of them appeared in district court on Monday and received court-appointed attorneys.

Mack was denied bond. Collins received a secured bond of $25,000, which was later increased to $125,000 during his first appearance in court.

Raab and Parridgen each received a secured bond of $20,000, which was later increased to $100,000.

A condition of their releases, should they pay the bail, includes a curfew of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Their next appearances in court will be on Aug. 17.

SUSPICIOUS DEATH LEADS TO CHARGES

Earlier in the week, on Monday, July 20, around 3:17 a.m., the BCSO responded to Barus Pond Loop in Valdese after a reported suspicious death.

By Thursday, July 23, the BCSO had contacted the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, who arrested Troy Allen Deese, of Newton, on one count of felony concealment of death.

Authorities later identified the victim as Amanda Brooke Williams, 43, of Valdese. By July 24, Deese was awaiting extradition to North Carolina.

“Sometimes it takes a governor’s warrant if he fights (extradition),” Hinceman said. “I don’t think there will be an issue.”

Deese does not yet have a court date set for Burke County District Court.

There are no murder charges in this case yet, and the investigation is ongoing.