Double Murder Suspect Appears In Court

The man accused of killing two people at a southern Johnston County mobile home on March 10th made his first appearance in Johnston County Court on Monday.

Gerald Thomas Paul Jr., 21, of Erwin is lead into a Johnston County Courtroom in March following his arrest for a double homicide in southern Johnston County. An autopsy report release this week on victim Matthew Jones indicated two firearms were used to shoot and kill him. The autopsy report on the second victim Jessica Pyatte has not been released. Photo by John Payne

Gerald Thomas Paul Jr., 21, of Erwin is charged with the murder of Matthew Jones and Jessica Pyatte, whose bodies were found inside Jones singlewide mobile home on Unity Drive, off Alonzo Road, on March 10th.

A judge approved a court appointed attorney for Paul. Paul was also informed the maximum penalty for the crime is the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A motive for the double murder has not been released by investigators with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.

A second person, Tara Nicole Wilson of Dunn is charged as an accessory after the fact.  Photos by John Payne