Johnston Detectives Arrest Two In Theft Of Wrecked Car

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — What began as an attempt to sell a wrecked vehicle on Facebook Marketplace ended with a stolen car, a break-in and the theft of several other items from a Johnston County property.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two people following an investigation into the May theft at a residence in the 1500 block of Bear Farm Road near Smithfield.

According to investigators, a 78-year-old man listed a damaged Dodge Charger for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Before the vehicle could be sold, someone allegedly stole it from the property.

The victim also reported that a building on the property had been broken into. Missing items included four antique Tonka trucks, a microwave, a toolbox and two refrigerators.

Detectives later recovered the Dodge Charger and continued their investigation, leading to the arrests of Jeffrey Allen Chiles, 41, of Yelverton Grove Road, Smithfield, and April Marie Yelverton, 43, of Hickory Crossroads Road, Princeton.

Chiles was arrested on June 27, while Yelverton was taken into custody the following day.

Both are charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, felony breaking and entering, and larceny.