In late July, Burke County was shaken by a series of unrelated murders, with five bodies being discovered within one week. Now, in late August, search warrants revealed new details in three of the cases.

When Tosha Lee Lewis, 36, of Hickory, was led into the courtroom on July 27 on her first set of conspiracy and murder charges, her contorted, crying face gave the impression of someone caught up in an unfortunate misunderstanding.

Despite the packed courtroom on the morning of July 30, the sound of jangling chains echoed clearly down the halls and through the closed doors as two people charged with the murder of a Morganton couple were led in to face the judge.