Suspects in NC 126 homicide case made first court appearances Monday
Chad Allen MacJarrett is escorted from the courtroom after his first appearance on Monday.
The two suspects in a Burke County homicide investigation appeared in court on Monday morning, where both opted for court-appointed attorneys and were given a probable cause hearing date.
Chad Allen MacJarrett, 27, and Donaven James Purcell, 26, will appear at their probable cause hearings at the Burke County Courthouse on Sept. 15.
Judge Matthew Cabe appointed defense attorney Bryan Jones to MacJarrett and defense attorney Wayne Clontz to Purcell.
MacJarrett and Purcell were arrested and charged with felony second-degree murder on Friday, Aug. 22, after the Burke County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a call reporting a heart attack at 3105 N.C. 126 in Morganton. When deputies arrived, they found 22-year-old Matthew Yury Roderick dead.
BCSO initiated a homicide investigation and brought in the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) for assistance.
Roderick resided at the N.C. 126 address. Purcell also resides there, and MacJarrett lives nearby.
Donaven James Purcell is walked out of the courtroom after his first appearance on Monday.
MacJarrett appeared a second time Monday morning with his newly assigned attorney before the court’s 12:30 p.m. lunch break. Purcell did not reappear before lunch.
Attorney Jones said MacJarrett is a lifelong resident of Burke County with two children and gainful employment. There is no violence in MacJarrett’s background, Jones said.
Assistant District Attorney Jason Smith said that, while MacJarrett has no criminal record, he previously had an assault on female charge. Smith said the charge was dismissed.
Court records show that MacJarrett was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female in August 2019. The charge was dismissed in January 2020. In December 2019, MacJarrett was charged with misdemeanor communicating threats, which was dismissed in February 2020. MacJarrett was then charged with misdemeanor simple assault in August 2020, which was dismissed in October 2020.
The murder last weekend was heinous, Smith said, adding that “alcohol appears to have been a factor in it.”
Judge Cabe denied MacJarrett bond. Purcell never reappeared with his attorney, meaning both are still under no bond. They remain incarcerated in the Burke County Jail.
No further details are available at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
Mica Banks is the County Government reporter for The Paper. She can be reached at 828-445-8595 or mica@thepaper.media.
