UPDATE 1:27PM Sunday – The deceased victim has been identified as Harry Nathaniel Taylor, age 64, of 3146 Alex Benton Road, Newton Grove. The injured female has been identified as Elven Franklin, age 69, of 3146 Alex Benton Road.
Perry Rendel Folger, age 46, of Panhandle Road, Faison, NC, has been taken into custody and charged with burglary and felony assault.
The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office says it appears Elven Franklin was injured attempting to defend Harry Taylor from being assaulted.
The incident is still under investigation regarding the circumstances surrounding the death and the fire. Additional charges are expected.
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NEWTON GROVE – One person was killed and another person injured Sunday morning in the 3100 block of Alex Benton Road near Newton Grove. Just before 1:00am, the Sampson County E-911 Center received a call reporting an assault victim and house fire.
Deputies and firefighters discovered an injured female in the yard of a mobile home that was engulfed in flames. After the fire was extinguished, a deceased male was found inside.
The NC State Bureau of Investigation, ATF, and Sampson County Fire Marshal’s Office are working with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office to determine the events leading up to and after the fire.
Authorities said the incident is being treated as an assault, homicide, and arson case at this time.
The female assault victim was transported to a regional hospital for treatment. The name of the assault victim and the deceased male are being withheld at this time.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office at 910-592-4141.
