By Robert Jordan
Dunn Daily Record
ERWIN – An Erwin woman, who admitted to shooting her boyfriend in the back in November 2022, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a deal with prosecutors Monday. Judge Winston C. Gilchrist sentenced 31-year-old Jaimie Lynn Strickland to a term of six to eight years in prison with credit for the 314 days she spent in jail awaiting trial.
Erwin police Investigator E. Core arrested Strickland of 601 Lucas Road and charged her with murder in the domestic violence shooting death of her boyfriend, Robert Williams, of the same address, on Thursday night, Nov. 9. Police were called to the home for a domestic disturbance at 6:02 p.m.
While officers were en route to the location, the Harnett County Communications Center notified them of reports of shots fired and someone injured at the address.
Upon arrival, officers found Williams in the front yard of the home with at least two gunshot wounds to his back. Officers initiated first aid while waiting for the arrival of paramedics. For nearly 45 minutes, paramedics worked to resuscitate Williams, but efforts were unsuccessful and he succumbed to his wounds. He was pronounced dead at 31 years old.
Investigators reportedly discovered an audio recording on Strickland’s cellphone that indicated a violent domestic disturbance had taken place. During that recording, several gunshots were heard followed by Strickland’s mother asking her what had happened. Strickland answered, “I shot him.”
Erwin police were called to the same home five months earlier for another domestic fight between Strickland and Williams. Strickland stabbed Williams in that event, but neither of the two desired to file a report or press any charges.
Strickland was admitted to the Harnett County Detention Center on Nov. 9 and held without bond.
On March 20, 2023, a Harnett County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment for murder against Strickland.
A disposition hearing was held on June 7 and after prosecutors indicated they would not be pursuing the death penalty, Judge Gilchrist set Strickland’s bond at $250,000, according to online court records.
Strickland was represented by attorney Deborrah Newton of the Newton Law Firm in Raleigh.
On Sept. 18, Strickland offered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter. The state agreed to this plea and Gilchrist sentenced Strickland to a minimum of 73 months to a maximum of 100 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction with nearly a year’s credit for time served before her case’s disposition. In addition, Strickland must provide a DNA sample and the court recommends substance abuse assessment and mental health assessment. The court also ordered she work to obtain her GED while confined.
Why did she have to wait 314 days for a trial?
I’m a compulsive liar in real life but what if it was justified?
So little time for taking someone’s life.
People look it doesn’t matter she did something that will haunt her for the rest of her life she has to live with the fact of murdering Robbie but what nobody knows is that chick is my bestie and has been since we were like 10 years old and that fella she killed that’s my cousin on my mom’s and my dad’s side he is my blood relative but you know what he was very abusive to her mentally verbally and physically so after so many years and months and days and weeks and seconds and ect a human body can only take but so much abuse until we break you all should start minding your own business bcuz you DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE NEXT PERSON IN THIS WORLD GOES THROUGH EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO DO US ALL A FAVOR AND SHUT UP. PLEASE AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. BYEEEEE NOW.