Michael James Moretz, the man accused of murdering Joseph Byrd and Michael Hallyburton on Aug. 31, 2025, appeared in Superior Court on Tuesday morning, his first procedural appearance since the state escalated the trial to the capital level.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) arrested a Hickory couple on child abuse charges last week for allegedly fracturing a 1-year-old’s left arm.

A grand jury indicted two Burke County men, Joshua Adam Bullard, 29, of Morganton, and former Valdese Elementary School teacher Michael John Daigler, 63, of Connelly Springs, on felony sex offense charges against children on Monday.

On Jan. 16, a man allegedly attempted to wrestle a fire hose from a firefighter while they were extinguishing a fire on Spaniel Street in Connelly Springs. When the firefighter resisted, the man punched him and ran from the scene.

A Vale man landed in jail on Dec. 26, following a Christmas night stabbing that put the victim in the hospital.

The man charged with murdering Joseph K. Byrd and Michael Curtis Hallyburton is now officially looking at the possibility of a death sentence.

Authorities made a breakthrough in the search for the Swink Street shooter this week following a search warrant and nearly three weeks of investigation.