Clayton Resident Charged With First-Degree Murder In Mother’s Death
CLAYTON, N.C. — Clayton Police have charged a Clayton man with first-degree murder after his mother was found stabbed to death Monday morning inside an apartment on East Main Street.
According to Clayton Police Chief Greg Tart, officers responded at approximately 8:59 a.m. Monday to a reported stabbing at Apartment 5 of the Heritage Court Apartments, located at 809 East Main Street in Clayton.
When officers arrived, they entered the apartment through a sliding glass door and encountered Michael Corteze Sanders, 43, of Clayton and took him into custody.
Inside the apartment, officers discovered 65-year-old Robie Annette Sanders suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Johnston County EMS responded to the scene and determined Robie Sanders was deceased.
Following interviews and a search of the crime scene, investigators charged Michael Sanders with first-degree murder.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday at the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Authorities said the homicide investigation remains ongoing, and a motive has not yet been released.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Clayton Police detectives at 919-553-4611 or the department’s tip line at 919-553-1555.
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This story has been updated
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I love how Clayton is becoming so metropolitan. Gotta love the growth.
JoCo has had many a horrendous murder Look up the murder committed by James Rufus “Jimmy” Creech II in 1948. Look on findagrave and put his name in and read the article about his execution. The man was 37 – married 3 times already – wealthy – and wealthy parents. What he did was beyond brutal. And before that – many more murders happened. None of this is new. The local newspapers were full of the local crimes committed – much more in detail and with way less bias than this site will ever be.
Murders have been committed for centuries – in towns, cities, middle of nowhere- wherever people are – crimes will always occur.
JoCo has never been a sweet, quiet low/no crime southern town like so many of the locals seem to want to rewrite history and make it to be. When I hear some of the people older than me that grew up here talk about the illegal drugs – as well as the alcohol and moonshine (they were all under 18 – so underage) – that they were taking back in the 1960s and 1970s I was confused. The media at the time made it seem like drugs were only an inner-city issue. I grew up in the suburbs and did not see anything other than marijuana. Had no clue there were hardcore drugs in areas like here – but there was – and lots of it apparently. Some of the local business owners that are still alive today even served time – not sure if it was state or federal. Granted they are elderly at this point. Others bought off the right people – good ole boy system – still in play today. IYKYK.
So what?
Thanks for the ” history” lesson?
It was still a better more peaceful place 20yrs ago, than it is today. Id take the good ole boy system over the mockery its becoming now, any day.
35 years ago I personally had two close friends murdered here in JoCo- 5 months apart. One murderer was out in less than a decade – the other got the death penalty but died in prison in 2023. Then there was the case of the three siblings outside of kenly back in the early 2000’s – murder/suicide – that sure wasn’t peaceful.
Y’all must live in a bubble.
Dear Leighlah34, Are you of any relation to the James Rufus Creech ll family?
Although correct in what he did to his wife was tragic and morally wrong. He paid the price for his crime.
Please consider the feelings of the members of that (Creech) family that are currently living when you post such comments.
I am one of his nieces. Our family’s have been criticized for many years because of his actions. We have healed from this tragedy and moved on.Don’t open a can of worms at others expense.
Don’t be upset that your family is part of Johnston County history. It may not be the way you wanted to have your family remembered but, in the end, its the truth.
I’m sorry about the problems that has happened to your family. But He did nothing wrong , he didn’t say anything to harm others.
My dear Beth – you were born 15 years after this. How anyone could ever say or blame you – or even your dear mother – who married into the family is beyond sad to read. I am loosely related to the the other side but more so to the other Creech family that for some reason were also harassed by some people – not sure if they were relatives or just friends or drinking buddies of Jimmy. That Creech family as you know were the main witnesses at the trial – Mattie fled to their house. Seems three families have been dealing with the fallout of one man being allowed to terrorize at least two women – probably more and do what he did do Mattie. Yes he paid the price – he should have. Sadly DV victims still face the same issues today as they did back then – and that is unforgivable.
I am sorry your feeling were a little bit shook – but Mattie’s were blown right off her head. You and I were both born in the ’60s – so well after the fact. I don’t think anyone that was there then is alive – but I could be wrong, I am not near that part of the county and did not grow up in this state but my father did. He left before this happened – he was angry for a while but he said anger couldn’t change anything. So – I am not angry – but I wanted to let people that falsely equate growth with crime – that it isn’t true. This county has had its share of brutal, horrific crimes – way further back than this – and more recent as well. I had two close friends murdered here in JoCo within 5 months of each other back in the early 90s. Both younger than me – it’s not new. A friend of mine – her mother was kidnapped and killed and found in a trunk of a car – that was back in the 1960s. Murder and other crimes are not anything new – neither are the drugs. It’s just now we have social media instead of the newspaper.
I took a stand against DV and got involved where I could and became a member of MADD – for several reasons. I hope if anyone in your family is still being wrongly harassed they can find an outlet as well. I meant no harm to you – you were not even born – nor was I.
Right! We never had this kinda bs 20yrs ago. Yes, there was crime, it wasn’t a Nirvana. But the influx of people has caused the crime rate to skyrocket exponentially.
I called it then. More people, more crime, destruction of infrastructure. But hey, at least the Council members papped their pockets. As an OG Clayton resident it’s disgusting
You’re so right. Someone told me there was a DRIVE-BY in Clayton. I said CLAYTON??…clay town??? I remember when there was NOTHING IN CLAYTON when rainbow lanes came THAT WAS LIKE THE CLUB for us 😂😂😂. I remember the 1 basketball court I remember the rivalry with TRIPLE S. I remember a CHAMPION factory was RIGHT BEHIND CLAYTON HIGH. I remember when EVERYONE KNEW EVERYONE IN SCHOOL. I remember when 210 hwy had NOTHING BUT TREES FOR MIIIILES!!!!! I remember 42 hwy was NOTHING!!!!!! until u got to the gas station where WENDYS WAS .now there are DRIVE-BYZ????? Place doesn’t have the same feel anymore
Your own mother smh.
Growth is just AWESOME. More traffic, more congestion, more crime, fewer trees, open spaces and peace and quiet.
Thank you, town leaders, for making Clayton just like every other sprawling city.
You won’t be seeing rainbows anymore
From what I heard, she moved here a little over a year ago when her other son was killed. Then her living son killed her because he wanted her car keys and she refused so he stabbed her to death and called the police on himself. OG Clayton girl here and it wasn’t like this 50 years ago or even 20 years ago.
Natalie Hawkins you heard wrong!! I am her sister and trust me, none of what you heard is true.