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Murder suspects apprehendedBy Carey Phillips |
Jason Graybill |
A husband and wife from Onset, Mass., wanted in connection with the death of a Sylva man, were arrested last Thursday in Salem, N.H.
Extradition hearings for Jason Graybill and Jennifer Murphy Graybill, both 26, were scheduled for Wednesday morning, according to Detective Darrin Young of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Jim Cruzan and three detectives from his department are in New Hampshire. Young said Jason Graybill is charged with first-degree murder while Jennifer Graybill is charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. The charges are in relation to the death of 34-year-old Steve Jones of Flaxman Cove, located near the N.C. 107 end of Cope Creek Road. He was reported missing Oct. 27, and his body was found the following evening in a wooded area on property belonging to his relatives in the Barkers Creek community. |
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Dr. William Mims, medical examiner, said Jones sustained gunshot wounds from a handgun to the head, chest and abdomen.
Officers from the Salem Police Department said the Graybills were taken into custody at the Red Roof Inn around 9:52 p.m. They say Jason Graybill struggled briefly with officers while holding a firearm. Jason Graybill was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and resisting arrest by Salem Police. Jennifer Graybill was charged with hindering apprehension and resisting arrest. Jason Graybill was also arrested on felony warrants from Massachusetts and North Carolina. He was previously charged with rape of a child in Massachusetts and obtaining property by false pretenses here. Investigators believe the Graybills were in Florida before coming to Sylva to visit friends of Jennifer Graybill. One of those friends had dated Jones. The Graybills' Mercury Marquis apparently developed mechanical problems in Georgia, and they rented a Pontiac Grand Am to continue their trip to North Carolina. Authorities think Jason Graybill left Sylva Oct. 24 to check on his car in Georgia. He returned to Sylva in the Grand Am and left with his wife Oct. 26. Jones was last seen alive Oct. 24, and his obituary listed that day as his date of death. The Marquis was located last Thursday at a Macon, Ga., body shop, Young said. He said the Graybills apparently traveled along the east and west coasts of Florida after leaving Sylva before heading to the northeast. He said officers from the Massachusetts State Police talked to Jason Graybill's parents and learned the Grand Am was in the area. Officers in Salem located the car at the motel and set up surveillance for about three hours before entering the room, Young said. Jones Murder Part 1 (Archive)Jones Murder Part 2 (Archive)Jones Murder Part 3 (Archive)Jones Murder Part 4 (Current Issue) |
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